Finance Building Opposite Main Market Undergoing Major Repairs

May 18, 2026 11:01 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Nicholas Mwai.

The rehabilitation of the Ministry of Finance building in central Port Vila is now underway, more than a year after the structure was damaged during the devastating 7.3-magnitude earthquake on 17 December 2024. China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Ltd, the contractor overseeing the renovation works, confirmed that preparations and early rehabilitation activities have already started on site as part of a wider government building restoration programme funded through Chinese assistance.

Henry Worek, Director General (DG) of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities (MIPU), assured the public that the building remains structurally sound despite visible damage caused by the earthquake.

“The building has only some cosmetic damage, but the structure of the building is intact,” Mr. Worek said.

“Chinese engineers, Australian engineers, and also MIPU team architects and building engineers have made assessments and come up with the result. Work is ongoing,” he added.

CCECC explained that the Ministry of Finance office building is a four-storey reinforced concrete frame structure with a total floor area of 3,599 square metres.

According to the contractor, the rehabilitation works include repairs to cracked infill walls, replacement of ceilings, restoration of damaged wall and floor tiles, repair of doors and windows, repainting of both internal and external surfaces, lift repairs, sanitary fixture repairs, and restoration of ventilation and air-conditioning systems.

CCECC said that after the renovation design received approval in February this year, the project moved into the procurement and site preparation phase.

“The construction drawings for the project were reviewed and approved by the relevant Vanuatu authorities prior to commencement of works,” the company said.

The contractor confirmed that demolition of damaged ceilings and lighting systems has already been completed, while teams are currently dismantling damaged wall sections, doors and windows, and installing scaffolding in preparation for the next phase of rehabilitation works.

CCECC also revealed that preliminary works are being carried out simultaneously across seven additional government buildings under the broader earthquake recovery programme.

“Construction activities will continue to progress in accordance with the work schedule as materials are delivered to site,” the company said.

The Ministry of Finance building, located opposite the main market in Port Vila, was constructed by China Gezhouba Group Limited and had only been occupied by the Ministry of Finance for about two to three months before the 17 December earthquake struck.

The rehabilitation programme forms part of a larger funding package valued at approximately VT6.8 billion provided to Vanuatu for the restoration of key public buildings damaged during the earthquake.