Airport beacon vandalism costs 70 million meticais
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on O País
The theft and vandalism of runway approach lighting equipment is causing about 70 million meticais in losses for Airports of Mozambique. The damage compromises the safety of landings and take-offs in poor visibility, with 8 million meticais in damage in Maputo, according to Acácio Tuendue, head of airport infrastructure.
Airports of Mozambique estimates losses linked to the theft and vandalism of equipment needed for runway approach lighting at 70 million meticais, reports O País. At Maputo International Airport, 69 approach lights were vandalised, while 40 transformers were destroyed in Lichinga four days before the incident reported by the newspaper.
The damage amounts to about 8 million meticais in Maputo for the replacement of the destroyed equipment alone, 21 million in Nacala and 20 million in Nampula, in addition to damage of the same amount reported in Lichinga. In Nampula, the water supply system and electrical transformer stations were also destroyed.
Acácio Tuendue, administrator responsible for infrastructure at Airports of Mozambique, says the absence of threshold and edge approach lights worsens landing and take-off conditions when visibility is reduced. The administration is calling on communities living around airports to report acts of vandalism.
