On May 30, 2025 (local time), key government ministers and officials from Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, representatives of landowners, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the National Airports Corporation (NAC), along with other major development partners, gathered in Kieta to witness the groundbreaking ceremony of the Aropa Airport Upgrade Project. The project, with a total investment of PGK 58.2 million, is contracted to China Railway Construction Group Co., Ltd. (CRCG) and is expected to be completed and operational by 2027.
The upgrade of Aropa Airport will include a series of critical infrastructure improvements, such as the repair and reinforcement of the runway, resurfacing with asphalt chip seal, construction of a new terminal and parking area, installation of new Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights, and the development of a full set of supporting facilities including power supply, water, sewage, and airside electrical systems—significantly enhancing the airport’s overall operational capacity.
This project falls under the Civil Aviation Development Investment Program Phase II (CADIP II), implemented by the National Airports Corporation (NAC) and supported by a loan from the Asian Development Bank. The construction period is expected to span two years.
President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Hon. Ishmael Toroama, expressed his appreciation to all development partners during the groundbreaking ceremony and called on local communities, especially landowners, to actively cooperate in the infrastructure development to jointly advance Bougainville’s sustainable growth.
He said, “Each of us must take action—we must build a hardworking society. Our future must be secured through our development partners.”
President Toroama also highlighted the historical significance of the airport’s redevelopment site to Prime Minister Marape, stating, “This was the battlefield of the final clash between the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and security forces. The fighting lasted six days and six nights and ended on the morning of the seventh day.”
Prime Minister James Marape praised the efforts of the National Airports Corporation in driving forward the airport upgrade and thanked the Asian Development Bank for its long-term loan support for civil aviation infrastructure projects.
“By 2030, we will have a set of modern, key infrastructure—airports, roads, ports, and power systems—that connects us to the region and the world,” said Prime Minister Marape. He also assured the local community that development plans for the Kieta Port are currently underway.
The Aropa Airport upgrade is seen not only as a boost to Bougainville’s national and international connectivity but also as a powerful symbol of peace, reconstruction, and development.
