The Civil Engineering Contractor August 2018 | Page 13

Greenland has been courting Chinese investors and construction
companies to assist with expanding three airports that would
permit direct flights from Europe and North America. The Danish
government is alarmed that Chinese involvement in its territory
could upset the United States, its ally.
Greenland is a self-ruling part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The Chinese interest came after Beijing in January laid out
ambitions to form a ‘Polar Silk Road’ by developing shipping
lanes potentially opening up as a result of global warming. It is
encouraging enterprises to build infrastructure in the Arctic.
Greenland is also eager to benefit from growing activity in
the Arctic. It plans to expand the three airports located in the
capital Nuuk; the tourist hub in Ilulissat; and at Qaqortoq in
southern Greenland.
The island lacks simple infrastructure for its small population
of 56 000, with no roads between the country’s 17 towns. For
now, it boasts just one commercial international airport at
Kangerlussuaq, western Greenland.
Greenland’s Premier Kim Kielsen made a visit to Beijing late
last year, during which the delegation met representatives of
engineering and construction company China Communications
Construction Company and Beijing Construction Engineering
Group. Now, a number of Chinese construction companies appear
on a list of 11 companies or consortia that have shown interest in
the projects with an estimated cost of USD595-million, according
to Kalaallit Airports, a state-owned company set up to build, own,
and operate the airports.
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WORLD NEWS
Part of China’s far-thinking ambitions to secure shipping lanes in
the Arctic as climate change opens up the region.
The company expects to shortlist five or six companies from
the list of bidders, with construction slated to begin in October.
Greenland will need external funding for approximately 40%
of the funding.
“Our visit to China should be viewed in the context of seeking
funding to these future investments,” Kielsen said during the visit
to Beijing, following meetings with the Export-Import Bank of
China (EXIM).
CEC August 2018 - 11