Bechtel interested in Cernavoda III project

US corporation Bechtel has informed the Romanian authorities of its interest in building Unit III at the Cernavoda nuclear-electric power station, a project estimated at one billion dollars.

Bechtel is already involved in another important public project in Romania as general contractor in the construction of the Brasov-Bors highway, a contract worth 2.4 billion dollars that is strongly contested by European Union officials and Romanian president Traian Basescu.

a??Bechtel Power Corporation would like to be the general contractor for Unit III at the Cernavoda nuclear-electric power station. This is what we do worldwide: we work as general contractors on important infrastructure projects,a?? sources at Bechtel told Ziarul Financiar.

Romaniaa??s minister for economy and trade, Codrut Seres, confirmed Bechtela??s interest in the Cernavoda project. a??It is true that Bechtel is very interested in this project. We have, however, offered them the opportunity to become investors in the project management company, which will handle the construction of Unit III at Cernavoda.a??

Bechtel has nonetheless made it very clear that they would rather become involved as general contractor, instead of being merely one of investors in the project, as suggested by the minister.

The contract for Transilvania highway was granted to Bechtel directly by the Nastase government and is currently being contested by president Traian Basescu. The government is in favour of the project, but would like to see a much lower level of funding from the state budget. The Romanian authorities announced that Unit III would be handled by a project management company, which will see Nuclearelectrica partner with investors to draw in the necessary capital. So far, investors in the project include Mittal Steel (the owner of the iron and steel complex in Galati), Enel (Italy), Ansaldo (Italy), AECL (Canada), Korea Hydro Nuclear & Power (South Korea), AFEN (Association of Nuclear-electric Equipment Suppliers – Romania) and Cem Demir (Turkey).