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