2 minutes agoGovernment owes Bechtel Enka 28m euros
Periskopi(7 years ago)
(7 years ago)Almost half of the money the Government of Kosovo owes to the consortium “Bechtel-Enka” for payment delays and footbacks of the works have already been paid. The remaining debt now amounts to about 28m euros, until the last portion of the debt is cleared into the framework of this company by June of this year. Meanwhile, [...]
Retirement delays and procrastination in the construction of the highway aimed at cutting the distance between Pristina and Skopje cost the poorest state budget in the region millions of euros in losses.
The state of Kosovo was forced to pay the company “Bechtel&Enka”, which is building the highway for Skopje, “Arba Xhaferi”, no less than 53m euros in additional payments due to delays in paying.
As the deadline for the return of this debt was given June this year, until the payment was made in some parts.
But part of this debt has already returned.
Minister of Infrastructure, Pal Lekaj has said that debt to “Bechtel&Enkas” has not yet been fully paid. It claims that only 25m euros have been paid so far.
While, the last part of the debt says it will be poured into the framework of this company by June of this year.
“Borgi 53m euros has not been paid yet and it will be paid in some parts. So far 25m euros have been paid”, Lekaj said.
The first of the Ministry of Infrastructure has also spoken of works currently being done on this highway.
Lekaj has said that the works have resumed and that they are developing depending on the weather conditions.
But for the time when this highway will be released, it has not provided details, even though on the basis of the contract, the highway would have to be released for circulation in December of last year.
“works on the Arbe Xhaferi highway have resumed and they develop depending on the weather conditions since the construction season has not yet begun well. This infrastructure giant is expected to be released once the final works have been completed here”, Lekay told Express.
Otherwise, due to disrespecting the contract, the American-Turkish company had forced Kosovo Government to pay 53.1m euros.
The reasons were for procrastination in the works, as well as for delay in paying the means in the contrary condition that they cut the works off on the “Arbe Xhaferi” to send the substance to international Arbitrage.
After that, the Haradinaj government decided to repay that debt.
This highway aims to cut distance between the two capitals (Pristina- Skopje) and impact on increasing exchange of goods and easier movement of people from both countries.
The “Arbean Xhaferi”, which began to be built in July 2014, has cost Kosovo's budget over 600m euros.
