A2 construction leading to dead end?

Chinese worker at A2 construction site. Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Michalowski

The move comes as COVEC, a Chinese contractor charged with building two sections of the A2 highway in central Poland, is likely to pull out of the investment.

On Wednesday the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways and representatives from the troubled COVEC consortium held talks on whether the Chinese firm would ultimately abandon works.

The move came as COVEC was given until today to present a timetable of arrears payment owed to subcontractors as well as a financial guarantee for the remaining part of the A2 investment.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk has upheld that works on the so-called ‘Chinese sections’ of the A2 will recommence in July regardless of the outcome of talks with COVEC.

Grabarczyk resigns from China visit

Meanwhile, Infrastructure Minister Cezary Grabarczyk has abandoned plans to visit China to attend the 60th anniversary of the founding of Chipolbrok, a Polish-Chinese company in Shanghai.

While the list of delegates travelling to China is as yet unknown, it was previously rumoured that Grabarczyk would be attending the anniversary celebrations.

“I find it hard to believe that [Grabarczyk] would come if the Chinese broke off the A2 contract,” an anonymous informer involved with the anniversary organisation told Polish Radio.

Chipolbrok is a Chinese-Polish Joint Stock Shipping Company and is the first company set up with foreign capital in the history of the People’s Republic of China.

Set up in 1951, the company is managed by the Polish and Chinese governments, represented by transport and infrastructure ministers.

The anniversary celebrations are expected to take place next week. (jb)

Source: IAR/PAP