Lompar: Investors do not "break" over the price of the highway

The cost of construction and the dilemma regarding the routes where the Bar-Boljari highway will pass could not be the reason for the investor to abandon the project, according to the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Telecommunications. The Minister of Transport, Andrija Lompar, said that the dilemma remained whether The highway should pass over or around Lake Skadar, but that it is not a priority section and that the issue would be resolved before construction in that section comes. He stated that the dilemma still remains regarding the wild settlement in Berane. »Such criticism is not should be the basis for any extension or non-acceptance from the private partner for the implementation of the project related to the first section", announced Lompar at the press conference. He said that pricing is a very complex issue, and that the state did not want to announce its estimated value before the end of the tender. »We said let's go to the market to see how much everyone will offer. We think it is reasonable not to mention how much the construction of the highway costs according to the project of the Faculty of Civil Engineering", said Lompar. He stated that when talking about the price that was related to the offer of the Aktor-HCH consortium, the European Investment Bank (EIB) remarked that maybe in the foreseeable future, due to the state of the market, it will be possible to achieve a better price. »I think that the issue of price is completely demystified, that it cannot be an issue over which something breaks,« concluded Lompar. The highway construction council decided to suspend the tender procedure with the Greek-Israeli consortium and start negotiations with Chinese companies as soon as possible.

"Constructor" a contractor again?!

The largest Croatian construction company, "Konstruktor", could, as a contractor, return to the game regarding the construction of the Bar-Boljari highway, which will be financed by the Chinese, reports Deutsche Welle.

The Chinese previously indicated that they would finance the construction of the highway that leads from the Adriatic coast to the border with Serbia, and that the works could be carried out by a company from Split. It is also possible that the Chinese and Croats could establish a consortium, which would have the strong support of the Croatian government.

Considering that the project is worth about three billion dollars, it would be of fateful importance for the failed "Constructor". That company is favored by the fact that its offer, at the first public tender, was more than one billion euros more favorable than the one offered by the Greek-Israeli consortium Actor-HCH.

Independent expert Emin Duraković said that "Constructor" can return to the game if a public tender is announced and the entire process is renewed.

"It's a story that will last from one and a half to two years", he says, adding that the chances of that scenario coming true are less after the departure of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader in Croatia and Milo Đukanović in Montenegro.

Duraković states that the "Constructor" is absolutely welcome to build a highway in Montenegro, if that company happens to apply for a new tender, "as a credible factor that can secure and receive the support of international financial institutions."