Repair is Vanuatu Government’s responsibility: Chinese Construction Firm

January 23, 2025 2:05 am | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Nicholas Mwai.

The recent earthquake in Port Vila has left many buildings, including the new Finance Building and the Presidential Palace, damaged. These structures, built by the China Gezhouba Group Company Limited, were visibly affected by the tremors. In light of the visible damage, experts and officials are working to assess the situation.

The China Gezhouba Group, renowned for its construction and engineering projects, was responsible for building the Finance Building and the President’s Palace. Following the completion of these buildings, the company said their responsibility for the structures has concluded.

According to the company, once the project was handed over, the responsibility for maintenance and repair fell to the government of Vanuatu. “We have fulfilled our contractual obligations; any future repairs are the responsibility of the Vanuatu government,” the Chinese Construction Group said.

Although the Gezhouba Group has legally closed its involvement, the Chinese Embassy in Vanuatu has offered reassurance. While acknowledging the company’s lack of responsibility for repairs, the embassy emphasised that China remains committed to supporting Vanuatu. “Although the contract is finished, we still consider Vanuatu as brothers and are willing to provide aid and emergency funding as needed,” the embassy stated.

A team of four Chinese earthquake experts has also conducted an assessment of the damaged buildings. They confirmed that while the Finance Building has visible damage, the structure itself remains intact. “The visible damage does not compromise the building’s strength. Only repairs are needed to restore it.”

Further assessments will be conducted to determine whether the building can be repaired or needs to be demolished. On Monday, during a briefing at the Recovery Operation Centre (ROC), officials discussed the need for a more detailed evaluation. “A thorough assessment, including fissile and structural reviews, must be completed before any decisions are made about the building’s future,” they said.