We’ve started to work on LOT 2 of “Maritsa Highway”
20.09.2011
We’ve started to work on LOT 2 of “Maritsa Highway”
We are responsible to all our projects
The Distrainment on the accounts of "Holding Roads” AD does not affect our infrastructural projects," claims Ivan Ivanov
Ivan Ivanov is an Executive Director of “Road Construction Equipment” JSC and representative of the JVs “Trakia IV”, building the Yambol-Karnobat section of the “Trakia” Highway and “Maritsa Highway”, constructing LOT 2 of “Maritsa” Highway
- Mr. Ivanov, is the execution of section Yambol -Karnobat of the „Trakia” Highway running on schedule?
- Up till now the part of „Takia” Highway LOT 4, between the cities of Yambol and Karnobat, has been running on time. Just as promised to the government, 16.7km of road B53, up to the pentacle junction, is ahead of the set term.
There is an open procedure for selecting a contractor for the stability of the unadapted soil along the road, which ensures transparency to the assigning of this project. Documents for the tender will be submitted on September 26. Many companies have bought bidding documents and many of them will probably participate. I hope for the best one to win but no matter what happens the project must be finalized and Bulgaria must have a highway from Sofia to Burgas.
-What are the results from the additional competition, which will be responsible for the construction of irrigation systems in the region?
- As far as the results from the additional competition on the irrigation systems, there were 3 companies that applied and we were one of them. Our proposal is the best one so far and we are expecting a resolution and confirmation from the committee regarding the period provided for an appeal. I am glad we managed to present the best offer to this procedure, because we are the ones who know this site the best. We have constructed enough temporary roads, which we are going to use and there is no need for the state to pay for them extra. We are going to put into use all existing infrastructure to reduce the very value of the construction of irrigation fields. This is the best solution for irrigation in the region and for the state that is going to pay less for this project. Of course this will have a very good impact on the highway construction , because in this way these sections of the highway that were threatened by flooding will be protected in a fundamental and a very good way.
-Is the distrainment on the accounts of “Holding Roads” going to interfere with the in time execution of your construction and reconstruction orders?
- There’s been information on the media last few days about garnished accounts of “Holding Roads”. This affects in no way the construction of large infrastructural projects, since “Holding Roads” does not take part in them. They are built by associations - separate legal entities and their accounts are no subject to distrainment. “Holding Roads” PLC isn’t the majority shareholder of these companies and cannot make decisions how to allocate the corresponding profits. “Road Construction Equipment” JSC is the main contractor on the projects and has no problems with distraint on their accounts.
-What development will occur in relation to the case with distraint accounts by UBB?
-What happens with UBB is nothing but normal legal processes that happen not only with “Holding Roads” PLC. A majority of firms in the country have seized accounts, but nevertheless continue to function. Practice shows that usually after such distraints discussions with the creditors begin and 90% of all cases end with an agreement. In my opinion, good will between the two parties will be found in this case and mutually beneficial conditions will be achieved. Distrainment of bank accounts is a common thing in the current economic situation. Since “Holding Roads” PLC is in the spot of the public attention the reaction is greater and this is normal but as I pointed out big part of the Bulgarian business is in a common situation and still continues to work – this is just a stage of the development of the economy.
-When are the construction works on LOT 2 of “Maritsa” Highway scheduled to begin?
- We have already started to work on “Maritsa” Highway LOT 2. There’s been a complete geological surveying. The supporting ground’s been restored, which is very important. For the scheduled implementation of the project we have provided the corresponding organization regarding 9km. of the road that passes through state forests. There is already a procedure on assigning the clearing of trees within the scope of the highway. I guess next week this procedure will be completed and a contractor will be announced, so that we can go in and work. Situated on the site there’s equipment needed for the construction of the very highway, for removal of humus and pouring the first layers of rocks so that we are ahead of the rainy season. Temporary roads are already being built. We have signed contracts for the disposal of unsuitable soils. The main quarries in the area are ours or of our partners that will build the section. There are asphalt mixers nearby ready for production of the asphalt mixtures.
-Considering the persistently lower prices of the candidates are you going to take part in the competitions for building the rest of the highway sections?
-There are still tenders for construction of sections of the “Struma” highway. The first two Lots passed and we applied for them. We offered reasonable prices. Of course, we cannot limit the dumping on the market but with our offers we demonstrate our opinion and our view. We support the decision of the Government and the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works to introduce a new methodology for evaluating the bids – for the main factor in selecting the winner of the auction not to be the lowest price offered but other criteria to count as well. We are sure of the objectivity of the decisions on these criteria of the new method. I am strongly convinced that this will contribute to increased requirements for construction and safety of the new sections - LOT2, LOT3 of the „Struma" Highway.
-Tell us about other projects of “Road Construction Equipment” Jsc. and the recently won railway project?
- A future project is LOT 2 of “Harmanli - Svilengrad railway section upgrading and electrification”. There’s a decision of the Committee to the Ministry of Transport that we are ranked as first since we gave the best technical offer. We have the necessary organization and we are ready to immediately proceed with the project. The local quarries are our property and we have good enough structures to take on the project. I am convinced we are going to finish it in time and with good quality. Our projects in Albania are successfully executed as well. We have already started the project in Rumania for construction of a treatment plant. We work very well with the Rumanian employer and in my opinion this project will be symbolic for us, completed in time and with good quality.
-What investments do you plan by the end of this year?
- We keep on investing in equipment and people. In this year, although difficult and severe, we have invested in the projects we’re working on. Our best investment so far is the people that work on all our projects. This has always been a priority to us and the results we’ve achieved speak of it well.
Martin LEKOV
20.09.2011
We’ve started to work on LOT 2 of “Maritsa Highway”
We are responsible to all our projects
The Distrainment on the accounts of "Holding Roads” AD does not affect our infrastructural projects," claims Ivan Ivanov
Ivan Ivanov is an Executive Director of “Road Construction Equipment” JSC and representative of the JVs “Trakia IV”, building the Yambol-Karnobat section of the “Trakia” Highway and “Maritsa Highway”, constructing LOT 2 of “Maritsa” Highway
- Mr. Ivanov, is the execution of section Yambol -Karnobat of the „Trakia” Highway running on schedule?
- Up till now the part of „Takia” Highway LOT 4, between the cities of Yambol and Karnobat, has been running on time. Just as promised to the government, 16.7km of road B53, up to the pentacle junction, is ahead of the set term.
There is an open procedure for selecting a contractor for the stability of the unadapted soil along the road, which ensures transparency to the assigning of this project. Documents for the tender will be submitted on September 26. Many companies have bought bidding documents and many of them will probably participate. I hope for the best one to win but no matter what happens the project must be finalized and Bulgaria must have a highway from Sofia to Burgas.
-What are the results from the additional competition, which will be responsible for the construction of irrigation systems in the region?
- As far as the results from the additional competition on the irrigation systems, there were 3 companies that applied and we were one of them. Our proposal is the best one so far and we are expecting a resolution and confirmation from the committee regarding the period provided for an appeal. I am glad we managed to present the best offer to this procedure, because we are the ones who know this site the best. We have constructed enough temporary roads, which we are going to use and there is no need for the state to pay for them extra. We are going to put into use all existing infrastructure to reduce the very value of the construction of irrigation fields. This is the best solution for irrigation in the region and for the state that is going to pay less for this project. Of course this will have a very good impact on the highway construction , because in this way these sections of the highway that were threatened by flooding will be protected in a fundamental and a very good way.
-Is the distrainment on the accounts of “Holding Roads” going to interfere with the in time execution of your construction and reconstruction orders?
- There’s been information on the media last few days about garnished accounts of “Holding Roads”. This affects in no way the construction of large infrastructural projects, since “Holding Roads” does not take part in them. They are built by associations - separate legal entities and their accounts are no subject to distrainment. “Holding Roads” PLC isn’t the majority shareholder of these companies and cannot make decisions how to allocate the corresponding profits. “Road Construction Equipment” JSC is the main contractor on the projects and has no problems with distraint on their accounts.
-What development will occur in relation to the case with distraint accounts by UBB?
-What happens with UBB is nothing but normal legal processes that happen not only with “Holding Roads” PLC. A majority of firms in the country have seized accounts, but nevertheless continue to function. Practice shows that usually after such distraints discussions with the creditors begin and 90% of all cases end with an agreement. In my opinion, good will between the two parties will be found in this case and mutually beneficial conditions will be achieved. Distrainment of bank accounts is a common thing in the current economic situation. Since “Holding Roads” PLC is in the spot of the public attention the reaction is greater and this is normal but as I pointed out big part of the Bulgarian business is in a common situation and still continues to work – this is just a stage of the development of the economy.
-When are the construction works on LOT 2 of “Maritsa” Highway scheduled to begin?
- We have already started to work on “Maritsa” Highway LOT 2. There’s been a complete geological surveying. The supporting ground’s been restored, which is very important. For the scheduled implementation of the project we have provided the corresponding organization regarding 9km. of the road that passes through state forests. There is already a procedure on assigning the clearing of trees within the scope of the highway. I guess next week this procedure will be completed and a contractor will be announced, so that we can go in and work. Situated on the site there’s equipment needed for the construction of the very highway, for removal of humus and pouring the first layers of rocks so that we are ahead of the rainy season. Temporary roads are already being built. We have signed contracts for the disposal of unsuitable soils. The main quarries in the area are ours or of our partners that will build the section. There are asphalt mixers nearby ready for production of the asphalt mixtures.
-Considering the persistently lower prices of the candidates are you going to take part in the competitions for building the rest of the highway sections?
-There are still tenders for construction of sections of the “Struma” highway. The first two Lots passed and we applied for them. We offered reasonable prices. Of course, we cannot limit the dumping on the market but with our offers we demonstrate our opinion and our view. We support the decision of the Government and the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works to introduce a new methodology for evaluating the bids – for the main factor in selecting the winner of the auction not to be the lowest price offered but other criteria to count as well. We are sure of the objectivity of the decisions on these criteria of the new method. I am strongly convinced that this will contribute to increased requirements for construction and safety of the new sections - LOT2, LOT3 of the „Struma" Highway.
-Tell us about other projects of “Road Construction Equipment” Jsc. and the recently won railway project?
- A future project is LOT 2 of “Harmanli - Svilengrad railway section upgrading and electrification”. There’s a decision of the Committee to the Ministry of Transport that we are ranked as first since we gave the best technical offer. We have the necessary organization and we are ready to immediately proceed with the project. The local quarries are our property and we have good enough structures to take on the project. I am convinced we are going to finish it in time and with good quality. Our projects in Albania are successfully executed as well. We have already started the project in Rumania for construction of a treatment plant. We work very well with the Rumanian employer and in my opinion this project will be symbolic for us, completed in time and with good quality.
-What investments do you plan by the end of this year?
- We keep on investing in equipment and people. In this year, although difficult and severe, we have invested in the projects we’re working on. Our best investment so far is the people that work on all our projects. This has always been a priority to us and the results we’ve achieved speak of it well.
Martin LEKOV
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