American company Bechtel plans to continue building Transilvania motorway if the necessary funds will be made available, Bechtel communication manager Bogdan Sgarcitu told HotNews.ro. According to him, the main impediment is the Romanian 2010 state budget, which did not insure that funds will be made available to resume the construction of the highway. For the 10 km from section 2B, between Turda and Campia Turzii, around 100 million euros will be necessary, while for the section 3C, namely 40 km between Suplacu de Barcau and Bors, the construction requires nearly 200 million euros. The works on section 2B are very likely to be carried out, but section 3C remains unaddressed.
"In the current conditions, works will resume on the 10 km between Turda and Campia Turzii, obviously in a limited rhythm due to weather conditions. (...).I don't know what is going to happen for section 3C", Sgarcitu said. The 2B section works will resume in the hope that funds will be found eventually. According to him, the budget rectification might offer a solution. Another solution for funding would be a credit guaranteed by the state, but the Romanian Finance Ministry excluded it on account that it would affect the budget deficit, Bechtel's spokesperson indicated.
"Both the PM and the other ministers, including Bechtel, are looking for finance solutions. We have talks with foreign banks", Sgarcitu added. In the days to come, the company will discuss with the unions and will announce how many workers will keep their jobs. Bechtel representatives have met with union members on Monday, February 8, during the Social Dialogue Commission. The negotiations between the American company and the unions are on for the week.
Bechtel announced last week that it intended to reduce works at the Transilvania motorway and was considering collective redundancies because i
