Morocco gets ADB loan for airport extension

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (ADB) Wednesday approved a loan of 52.70 million Units of Account (about 78 million Euro or 68.11 million dollars) to finance the improvement and extension of some airports in Morocco.

An ADB release said the project seeks to improve the capacity of the Mohammed V airport in Casablanca as well as air navigation security within Morocco's flight information region.

It would thus help ensure the flow of traffic with optimal security and in accordance with relevant International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

The project involves the construction of the departure terminal at Casablanca airport, strengthening of the main runway at Mohammed V airport and construction of a second identical runway, while expanding the capacity at Mohammed V airport to 8 million passengers in 2005.

Furthermore, it seeks to increase security and safety in Moroccan airports by procuring equipment prescribed by ICAO.

The loan would finance part of the foreign exchange cost of the project whose total cost is estimated at 98.07 million Units of Account (about 123.63 million US dollars).