After a meeting with Bechtel officials yesterday, Berceanu said that Romania will pay Bechtel some €141.5 million in arrear payments and a further €291 million for work to be done this year.
Bechtel representatives indicated that, “if Romanians comply with their contract obligations, meaning land expropriation, regulation of the utility status along the highway, and sustained and correct payment of arrears, the first 42 kilometers will be finalized in November 2009.”
Although the contract with Bechtel was signed in 2003, only 11 km of highway have been constructed. Berceanu wants to have the highway ready by 2012. Last week, the Minister warned that he would ask the constructor to build only part of the highway and organize a tender for the remaining parts.
