YEREVAN (Respublica Armenii/Snark)–Operation of the cargo terminal at the Zvartnots airport of Yerevan will start by the end of January–a few months later than it was initially planned. Construction was undertaken by the American company Bill Harbert International Construction Inc.–based on a loan program of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The loan of $22.8 million was provided by the European Bank for 12 years–with a 2 year privilege period. The terminal includes a 10,000 sq.m. storage area–a three story office building–parking area for the airplanes and cars. It will be capable of simultaneously serving up to five airplanes–including the largest ones. The storage has a capacity of 80-100,000 tons of cargo–with a turnout of 40,0000 tons per annum. The storage has capacity to expand.
Head of the Construction Program Khachik Bagratian said that by the end of January all construction operations in the building will be completed. When the temperature is warmer–asphalt will be laid and greens planted in the neighboring territories.
The government of Armenia paid $5 million for the construction and spent $737,000 on 30 hectares of land purchased from peasants.
To date–of the total loan of $22.8 million–15 million has been used. An additional $2.5 million will be used for construction this year–and $2 million will used to purchase equipment. $2.5 million of the loan is assigned for unforeseen expenses.