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Thu, Feb 09 2012
Sofia Airport tarmac tussle
AUSTRIA'S Strabag is blamed for the low quality of the asphalt pavement of the taxiways and the new passenger terminal of Sofia Airport, an independent Dutch expert assessment shows.
The announcement of this conclusion on September 27 was just another episode of the ongoing saga of the construction of the new airport terminal, with Strabag and the Dutch company NACO - main players in the drama.
To add to the dispute, a parallel Austrian assessment is expected to put the blame on NACO, which is engineer, consultant and supervisor of the project.
The construction works on the new passenger terminal at Sofia Airport are hardly likely to be resumed in the near future, provided the battle of interests, which is getting fiercer. The problems arose from the disagreements between Strabag and NACO. Strabag asked NACO to extend additional amount of three million euro due to the rise in the prices of steel. The consultant has to approve the money first before the European Investment Bank (EIB) that finances the project will extend the funds.
According to the Dutch NACO, there are reasons for asking for additional money, but no clause in the contract with the Government allows such a demand. The contract says that the fluctuation in the prices of raw materials is taken on the constructor's account.
At the end of August, a Bulgarian subcontractor under the project, Trace Group, stopped works on the terminal on the basis that there were certain discrepancies in the project, which would make the construction slower and more expensive.
The problem with Trace has not been resolved yet. Furthermore, other sub-contractors like Balkanstroi and Monolith followed its example and also stopped works. Only after negotiations with Transport and Communications Minister Nikolai Vassilev, did they resumed their activities.
In an attempt to rescue the project, the Government is expected to appoint a commission to establish who is responsible for the asphalt defects. According to experts however, the commission is only expected to approve the authorities'official position.
- Business Staff
The announcement of this conclusion on September 27 was just another episode of the ongoing saga of the construction of the new airport terminal, with Strabag and the Dutch company NACO - main players in the drama.
To add to the dispute, a parallel Austrian assessment is expected to put the blame on NACO, which is engineer, consultant and supervisor of the project.
The construction works on the new passenger terminal at Sofia Airport are hardly likely to be resumed in the near future, provided the battle of interests, which is getting fiercer. The problems arose from the disagreements between Strabag and NACO. Strabag asked NACO to extend additional amount of three million euro due to the rise in the prices of steel. The consultant has to approve the money first before the European Investment Bank (EIB) that finances the project will extend the funds.
According to the Dutch NACO, there are reasons for asking for additional money, but no clause in the contract with the Government allows such a demand. The contract says that the fluctuation in the prices of raw materials is taken on the constructor's account.
At the end of August, a Bulgarian subcontractor under the project, Trace Group, stopped works on the terminal on the basis that there were certain discrepancies in the project, which would make the construction slower and more expensive.
The problem with Trace has not been resolved yet. Furthermore, other sub-contractors like Balkanstroi and Monolith followed its example and also stopped works. Only after negotiations with Transport and Communications Minister Nikolai Vassilev, did they resumed their activities.
In an attempt to rescue the project, the Government is expected to appoint a commission to establish who is responsible for the asphalt defects. According to experts however, the commission is only expected to approve the authorities'official position.
- Business Staff
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Appointments
British Council
Lyubov Kostova was appointed country manager of British Council Bulgaria effective January 1, replacing Tony Buckby, who left in October 2011 to take a similar position at British Council Greece. Kostova has been with British Council Bulgaria for 11 years, as public communications manager and, since 2008, as the head of project and partnerships department. Prior to joining the British Council, Kostova was head of international activities at the National Academy for Theatre and Cinema Arts (NATFIZ). She has a degree in Indian studies from Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.
CEZ
Stefan Apostolov is the new chief executive of CEZ Razpredelenie Bulgaria, the power transmission subsidiary of Czech energy company CEZ in the country. He replaces interim chief executive Ales Damm, who remains the chairperson of the CEZ Razpredelenie management board. Apostolov has 30 years of experience in the energy sector, joining CEZ in 2007 as director of customer service and was later appointed as head of business development. Apostolov has a master's degree in electric systems from the Belorussian National Technical University in Minsc, management diplomas from Open University London and New Bulgarian University, as well as a master's degree in business administration from Plovdiv University.
Rompetrol Bulgaria
Alexander Albin has been appointed chief executive of fuel distributor Rompetrol Bulgaria, replacing Nichita Sorin, who left to become chief executive of Rompetrol Gaz in Romania. Albin was previously chief executive of Rompetrol Georgia. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry; prior to joining Romania's oil group Rompetrol in 2008 as an adviser, he oversaw operations at Atyrau refinery in Kazakhstan, owned by Rompetrol's parent company KazMunaiGaz. He previously held top management positions at two other leading Kazakh oil and gas companies.
BASF Bulgaria
Valentina Dikanska is the new general manager of chemical industry giant BASF subsidiary in Bulgaria, taking over from Herbert Fisch, BASF vice president for Southeastern Europe. Dikanska, who started her career as an expert in the Finance Ministry, joined BASF Bulgaria as director of finance and administration in 2002. She becomes the first Bulgarian to hold the top management position in the company in its 40-year history on the Bulgarian market. Dikanska holds a master's degree in economics from the University for National and World Economy in Sofia.
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