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Transportation Minister Radu Berceanu yesterday announced that he had completed negotiations with Bechtel and that the U.S.-based contractor would receive 440 million EUR in 2009 to continue construction works on Transylvania Highway. The first 42 kilometres of the Campia Turzii - Gilau section will be ready by 15 November.
"Bechtel has a contract that is advantageous to them and disadvantageous to us. Out of this contract, we want to know what we are paying for. We have defined three points with the Bechtel representatives: the schedule for 2009, the schedule until 2012 and the issues related to the section between Brasov and Cluj," Berceanu told NewsIn.
He stressed that 150 million EUR of the said 440 million EUR was the sum of overdue payments from 2008. The Ministry will no longer make the 150 million EUR advance payment as before, but pay as works are completed. "The contract stipulated that invoices were to be paid in 25 days, which was causing a number of problems related to the steps needed to draw money from the budget. We have agreed to extend the payment period for the monthly invoices from 25 days to 35-40 days," Berceanu added.
He also announced he had suggested to Bechtel to finalize the works between Campia Turzii and the border until 2012. For the Brasov - Cluj section, Bechtel must consider giving up on the contract. If they accept, the Ministry of Transportation intends to concede such works.
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