Denmark. Kalaallit Airports International A/S
| Date of agreement: | 31 May 2019 |
|---|---|
| Country: | Denmark |
| Customer: | Kalaallit Airports International A/S |
| Amount in DKK: | DKK 450 million |
| Amount in EUR: | EUR 63.3 million |
| Maturity: | 20 years |
| NACE sector / loan type: | Air transport |
Facilities
Arctic Financing Facility (read more): 100%
Project
NIB has provided a loan for the redevelopment of two international airports in Nuuk and Ilulissat in Greenland.
Nuuk Airport: Construction of a 2,200 meters runway to replace the exisiting runway of 950 metres, a new terminal area, a new passenger terminal and a new tower.
Ilulissat Airport: A new 2,200-metre runway, conversion of the existing 845 metres of runway into an access road, a new terminal and technical building, and a new tower.
The new airport structure in Greenland will redirect transatlantic flights from Kangerlussuaq to Nuuk and Ilulissat. Nuuk will become the main hub for Greenland.
The Nuuk and Ilulissat airports are expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
Kalaallit Airports International A/S will develop and operate the Nuuk and Ilulissat airports. The Government of Greenland owns company 66.67% of the company, and the Government of Denmark owns the remaining 33.33%.
Fulfilment of NIB's mandate
Productivity
The purpose of the investments is to establish a coherent airport infrastructure in Greenland. This will improve transport connections, increase direct flights and airline operators, and reduce travel time costs. Expanding the key infrastructure in Greenland will reduce market barriers, facilitate competition and increase economic opportunities for fisheries, mineral production, eco-tourism and research.
Expected annual growth in tourism at the two airports: 2.2%
Environment
The increased air traffic at the two sites will cause increased discharges of phosphorous and nitrogen to water, and increased emissions of NOx and CO2.
Expected annual environmental impacts related to the investments at the two airports:
Nitrogen: +11 tonnes
Phosphorous: +750 kg
CO2 emissions: +5,000 tonnes
Sustainability summary
This is a project with a potentially extensive environmental and/or social impact (category A, read more)
Impacts during construction will be mainly noise and vibrations during blasting and hauling of rock material, air emissions from construction equipment and blasting, impacts on flora and fauna due to the removal of overburden and noise, handling of construction waste and explosives. Fuel may cause impacts. The project will result in an immediate decrease of CO2 annually because domestic travel will decrease.
It will become important to prevent discharges of soil and rock particles into the water, and to prevent spill from explosives and fuel reaching the surrounding environment.
Archaeological investigations have been conducted.
During the operational phase of the airports, the main impacts in Nuuk and Ilullissat will relate to the increase in landings and take-offs. Air emissions of NOx and CO2 will increase. Waste amounts from the airports’ operations will increase, as will discharges of wastewater from airport areas and terminal buildings. The main water contaminants will stem from de-icing fluids for planes and de-icing agents for runways and taxiways, as well as wastewater from the terminal and hangar areas.
Noise in Nuuk and Ilullissat will increase because of the increased number of landings and take-offs, and traffic to and from the airport. The new runways and related infrastructure will also have a visual impact on the surroundings.
Both projects have undergone the required permit processes in accordance with legal requirements.
