UAE-based Gulf Cobla has announced that it has started reclamation work for the expansion of the Ibrahim Nasir international Airport on Hulhule island in the Maldives.

Its unit Gulf Cobla Tennssor Maldives (GTCM) said in a statement that it will reclaim over 4 million cubic metres of sand for the new runway construction. The company did not disclose the value of the contract.

The sand will be taken from the inner lagoon where the company also dredged more than 2 million cubic metres of sand for the previous expansion during 2012.

GTCM, which was appointed by mian contractor Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG), said it has initially deployed its cutter suction dredger (CSD) Deira Bay and will follow up with its CSD Khaleej Bay to increase the progress in order to meet the completion date.

Beside the reclamation, GTCM, which has a head office in Jebel Ali, Dubai will also take care of the revetment works protecting newly created land for the runway as part of their contract with BUCG.