Work to expand and update Maria Mambo Café Airport in Angola’s northern Cabinda province began last week, the Angop news agency reports.

The Angolan agency says China Railway Construction Corp. Ltd. has started on the 14-month, US$185-million project, which is funded by the Central Government in Beijing.

Included in the project is work to expand the runway to 3,400 metres and 60 metres width to accommodate wide-body Boeing 777 jets, a 19,000-square-metre passenger terminal with a peak capacity of 900 passengers, and a new control tower.

Angola’s Minister of Transport, Augusto da Silva Tomás, said infrastructure works would create jobs, provide economic and social stability at last week’s ceremony to commence construction.