PNG Considers Major Overhaul for Nadzab Airport City Dream
Papua New Guinea’s newly established Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport in Lae may soon undergo major infrastructure expansion as national leaders revisit long-term plans to transform the site into a modern airport city.
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| PNG Considers Major Overhaul for Nadzab Airport City Dream [Image supplied] |
At present, the airport handles only domestic flights and remains without key facilities expected of an international hub. Support services that initially operated at the airport have also ceased, prompting renewed calls for development.
A vast 1,000-hectare block of land beside the airport—earmarked earlier by Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru as a potential special economic zone—remains idle, raising concerns about missed opportunities for the province.
Morobe Governor Reinbo Paita reminded Parliament yesterday that the vision of turning Nadzab into a functioning airport city must not be abandoned, saying his province is ready to work with the national government to progress the plan.
In response, Minister Maru cautioned that PNG has never successfully built a city from scratch, describing such developments as extremely expensive and complex for any government to undertake.
He said the Government is now preparing a consultative workshop in January 2026 with the Morobe provincial administration and international partners to review global lessons before committing to any large-scale investment.
“We need to understand what it truly takes to build a modern city,” Minister Maru said.
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