Romania Fin Min Points Finger At U.S. Bechtel Over Transylvania Motorway Problems

“We need the motorway. We allocated EUR400 million this year to Bechtel. I would like to see the kilometers of motorway match our financing. The Romanian government has done its duty, and this year’s budget includes the entire financing. If things do not go how they suppose to, you should ask them (Bechtel – e.n.) about it and tell them we’ve done our job,” Vosganian said in a press conference.

In July, the Romanian authorities assigned added 400 million lei (EUR1=RON3.5370) for the construction of Transylvania Highway, upon the second budget revision of the year.

Transport Minister Ludovic Orban said in June the government will assign additional EUR200 million for the investment.

The first 35 kilometers of the Transylvania Motorway will be slated for use in November, Stefan Szobotka, communication manager of the country’s national roads and highways company said mid-May.

He also said U.S. constructor Bechtel received a downpayment of EUR132 million at the beginning of the year to cover works in the first half of 2008.

The construction of the Transylvania Motorway started in 2004, based on a contract worth EUR2.2 billion attributed to Bechtel. Works halted mid-2005, when authorities started looking into contracts concluded under the previous government. The highway is due for completion in 2013.

(MEDIAFAX news agency provides audio recording of statements made by Economy and Finance minister Varujan Vosganian. The service can be accessed on the internet, at www.news.mediafax.biz)