2bn euro public-private partnerships in 2004

The infrastructure projects scheduled to be implemented through public-private partnerships could amount to more than 2bn euros next year, says Sorin Ovidiu Bota, state secretary within the Ministry of Transports, Constructions and Tourism. The state secretary told Ziarul Financiar, “there are 1.2bn euros in public-private partnership commitments for projects at the moment, which will amount to more than 2bn euros by the end of next year, without taking the projects discussed with US’ Bechtel into account, though.” Bechtel, which became a player on the market for highway projects launched by the Romanian authorities this year, is interested in the project to build the Brasov-Targu Mures- Cluj-Oradea-Bors highway, worth about 2.8bn euros according to the feasibility study. The public-private partnerships to be launched next year include the modernisation of Bucharest’s beltway, estimated to cost 500 million euros, as well as the construction of a suspension bridge over the Danube in the Braila area, which requires approximately 300 million euros. ZF