Doggo
May 22nd, 2009, 03:47 AM
US$1.5bn Aeropuerto de Lago project gaining momentum
Published: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 17:17 (GMT -0400)
By Renzo Dasso / Business News Americas
The US$1.5bn Aeropuerto de Lago project, in Mexico state's (Edomex) Nezahualcóyotl municipality, is becoming the preferred option for the expansion of Mexico City's international airport (AICM), local environmental expert and project spokesperson Ramón Ojeda told BNamericas.
"On May 18, the AICM's consultation board sent a letter to the Nezahualcóyotl municipal president, Víctor Bautista, asking him to update legal and technical information, as the board will review the project at its next meeting," Ojeda said.
"The project is alive. Our technical advisor has requested a meeting with new [transport and communications ministry] SCT head Juan Molinar Horcasitas, who seems less biased than his predecessor, to introduce him to the project," he added.
Ojeda said Aeropuerto del Lago has gained momentum since the appointment of Molinar Horcasitas as SCT head in early March, increasing the chances of Nezahualcóyotl being chosen as the site for the airport.
THE PROJECT
Aeropuerto del Lago is projected to be built on 420ha of federal land that covers the Bordo Poniente landfill and dry bed of lake Texcoco.
The project was announced on November 28 by a committee comprised of representatives of AICM, the federal district (DF), Edomex, Nezahualcóyotl and the local chapter of the International Court of Environmental Arbitration and Conciliation, headed by Ojeda.
Mexican magnate Carlos Slim is reportedly interested in investing and carrying out the project - which is also open to local and international capitals - through his infrastructure and engineering consortium Grupo Carso.
In addition to solving congestion problems at AICM, the project would enable the immediate ecological recuperation of Bordo Poniente, which was originally scheduled for permanent closure on January 15 this year.
The facility receives up to 12,000t/d of waste from Edomex and the DF.
The project also includes the capture of greenhouse gases to sell on the carbon bonds market and the construction of lixiviates control facilities and solid waste treatment plants.
TEXCOCO
However, on December 12, lower house representatives said the federal government already has studies and recommendations from international experts that show Texcoco municipality, also in Edomex, is the best option to build a new international airport to serve Mexico City.
Lower house communications committee head Gustavo Cárdenas said that internationally recognized companies also agree that Texcoco is the most adequate location for the new terminal.
The location of the new airport in Edomex is becoming increasingly urgent as the current terminal is operating at the limit of its capacity, and air and passenger traffic continues to increase.
While Texcoco municipality is considered a viable option by SCT, others studies are underway to resolve the issue and SCT is looking at a number of options, ranging from building a series of terminals to a single airport.
Published: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 17:17 (GMT -0400)
By Renzo Dasso / Business News Americas
The US$1.5bn Aeropuerto de Lago project, in Mexico state's (Edomex) Nezahualcóyotl municipality, is becoming the preferred option for the expansion of Mexico City's international airport (AICM), local environmental expert and project spokesperson Ramón Ojeda told BNamericas.
"On May 18, the AICM's consultation board sent a letter to the Nezahualcóyotl municipal president, Víctor Bautista, asking him to update legal and technical information, as the board will review the project at its next meeting," Ojeda said.
"The project is alive. Our technical advisor has requested a meeting with new [transport and communications ministry] SCT head Juan Molinar Horcasitas, who seems less biased than his predecessor, to introduce him to the project," he added.
Ojeda said Aeropuerto del Lago has gained momentum since the appointment of Molinar Horcasitas as SCT head in early March, increasing the chances of Nezahualcóyotl being chosen as the site for the airport.
THE PROJECT
Aeropuerto del Lago is projected to be built on 420ha of federal land that covers the Bordo Poniente landfill and dry bed of lake Texcoco.
The project was announced on November 28 by a committee comprised of representatives of AICM, the federal district (DF), Edomex, Nezahualcóyotl and the local chapter of the International Court of Environmental Arbitration and Conciliation, headed by Ojeda.
Mexican magnate Carlos Slim is reportedly interested in investing and carrying out the project - which is also open to local and international capitals - through his infrastructure and engineering consortium Grupo Carso.
In addition to solving congestion problems at AICM, the project would enable the immediate ecological recuperation of Bordo Poniente, which was originally scheduled for permanent closure on January 15 this year.
The facility receives up to 12,000t/d of waste from Edomex and the DF.
The project also includes the capture of greenhouse gases to sell on the carbon bonds market and the construction of lixiviates control facilities and solid waste treatment plants.
TEXCOCO
However, on December 12, lower house representatives said the federal government already has studies and recommendations from international experts that show Texcoco municipality, also in Edomex, is the best option to build a new international airport to serve Mexico City.
Lower house communications committee head Gustavo Cárdenas said that internationally recognized companies also agree that Texcoco is the most adequate location for the new terminal.
The location of the new airport in Edomex is becoming increasingly urgent as the current terminal is operating at the limit of its capacity, and air and passenger traffic continues to increase.
While Texcoco municipality is considered a viable option by SCT, others studies are underway to resolve the issue and SCT is looking at a number of options, ranging from building a series of terminals to a single airport.