This Monday, the Minister of Housing of El Salvador, Michelle Sol, reported that they have already received the construction permits for the Pacific Airport, also known as the Bitcoin City Airport.
According to Sol, the construction of the project bases in 930 plans that have been reviewed and validated by ministry technicians“so that all requirements are met.” The minister stated that these plans “are now ready to be delivered.” In the photographs shared by the minister you can see the almost thousand plans of the project arranged on her desk.
The Pacific Airport, also called Bitcoin City Airport, will be located next to the future Bitcoin City, a metropolis based on the technology of the most important digital currency in the world.
The first earthworks for the air terminal began in June 2023, when the Autonomous Port Executive Commission (CEPA) allocated USD 73 million for the project, as reported by CriptoNoticias. A year later, in June 2024, the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador approved 290 BTC to finance the development of the Bitcoin City Airport, after this project was included in the 2024 Budget Law, as reported by this medium.
Bitcoin City was announced by President Nayib Bukele in November 2021, with the goal of creating a smart city that uses geothermal energy for Bitcoin mining. To date, construction of this metropolis has not begun, remaining as one of the pending promises of the Bukele government.
A few months ago, it was reported that Corbin Keegan, the first inhabitant of Bitcoin City, had left El Salvador after unsuccessfully waiting for the city to be built for a couple of years. Although Keegan promised that his departure would be temporary, so far there are no signs of his return to the Central American country.
The Pacific Airport is crucial to the development of Bitcoin City as it is expected to serve as the main gateway to this innovative city. The approval of the plans and construction permits marks significant progress in the project, which seeks to integrate air infrastructure with the ecosystem of the pioneering digital currency, thus promoting the adoption of bitcoin and attracting foreign investment.
The Pacific Airport project has generated both expectations and criticism. While some see this infrastructure as an opportunity for the economic and technological development of the region, others have expressed environmental concerns and about the economic viability of using bitcoin. However, with the permits already in hand and the plans ready for execution, the government of El Salvador appears to be moving forward with determination towards the materialization of these ambitious initiatives.
Minister Sol did not provide further details on the construction schedule, but the delivery of the revised and validated plans suggests that the project is ready to enter its implementation phase.
