"licensing, given the importance of the runway to operations should be imo no big deal." I also think so BUT it is a big but. It is one thing to operate a landing strip for your own use and a different matter if I use it as a profitable venture to serve others. I suspect a whole bunch of regulations come into play. The other aspect is, they ran afoul of another ministry so there may be some lethargy in permitting in play. Just speculating as to what may be the cause of delays and possible retributions from the natives. The world of politics - save us from it.