Briefs

Warsaw metro's 2nd line

According to the recent PricewaterhouseCoopers' report commissioned by Warsaw authorities, construction of Warsaw's second metro line could start as early as October 2005. At present the line will run west-east across the Wisla river from Chrzanow to Dabrowka.
The report, to which law firm CMS Cameron McKenna and engineering consultancy WS Atkins also contributed, says that the first section could be ready by 2009 and the whole line by 2011. The estimated cost of the project is EUR 1.8 bln.
According to the development schedule based on PwC's report, the tender process for construction of the second line will start at the beginning of the 2nd half of this year, with a winner to be announced in the 3rd quarter of 2004.

Mostostal Zabrze in Europe and Asia

Polish construction company Mostostal Zabrze has announced two new contracts worth EUR 1.7 million. The larger one, for EUR 1.5 million, is to modernize a steelworks in Trzyniec, Czech Republic. The 2nd contract, worth EUR 197,000, is for construction of a steel atrium in an office building in Seoul, South Korea. Of the 16 major projects Mostostal Zabrze is currently working on, 3 are abroad; the construction of the steel structure for a power plant in Niederaussen, Germany, and the construction of the steel structures for 2 bridges in Sweden. A total of 350 Mostostal Zabrze employees work abroad.

Work on Siekierkowski Bridge ongoing

While construction of the 500m river-spanning section of Warsaw's Siekierkowski Bridge has almost been completed - the pavement and cycle paths are now being laid - construction of the connecting roads on both sides of the river is underway. The most intensive work is being carried out at the so-called Czerniaków road 'knot' on the west side of the Vistula river, where the bridge road will branch off to central Warsaw, Wilanow and Stegny.
The contractors of the bridge, which will run 827.7 metres in total, are Warbud, Mostostal Warszawa and French giant Campenon Bernard SGE. The pylon supporting the bridge will reach over 92 metres high, 12 metres higher than the pylon at Swietokrzyski Bridge, which was opened in October 2000. The first cars are expected to be able to cross Siekierkowski Bridge by the beginning of September this year, although all related works will not be finished until spring 2003.

Rothschild advises Mostostal Zabrze as company re-structures

Rothschild Corporate Finance Polska has been appointed by Mostostal Zabrze Holding to find a strategic investor. The contractor's current major shareholder, with a stake of 34.44 %, is Bank Przemyslowo-Handlowy. The other shareholders are: PZU Group (6.39 %), Comercial Union OFE BPH WBK (5.52 %), Pekao OFE (5.08 %) and private investors (48.56 %). Meanwhile, the company's Supervisory Board has announced its intention to simplify the group's structure by cutting costs and employment. After the restructuring process is complete the group should consist of four subsidiary companies: Przedsiebiorstwo Robót Inzynieryjnych SA - Holding, Mostostal Zabrze ,Montaz", Mostostal Zabrze ,Konstrukcje" and Mostostal Zabrze ,Budownictwo". The aim of the re-structuring is to focus on four market segments: natural environment preservation, energetics, transport infrastructure and industrial and civil engineering developments.

Airport near Lublin

Airport authority Port Lotniczy Lublin SA has announced plans to turn a leisure airport in Swidnik, near Lublin (Eastern Poland) into a regional city airport. According to Zbigniew Salek, President of PL Lublin, investors interested in financing the project have already been identified. The airport will be designed to handle small planes with a maximum of 50 passengers. A budget of PLN 40 mln is estimated for the 1st phase. The first planes should land in the new Swidnik airport at around the beginning of 2004. (Source: "Rzeczpospolita")

Who will construct Zlote Tarasy?

The general contractor of ING Real Estate's mixed use Zlote Tarasy project in Warsaw will probably be announced in June, says ING.
According to Jerzy Hanczewski of ING Real Estate, nine companies are currently taking part in the tender, down from eleven original bids. In due course three companies will be short-listed. ,All the major international contractors in Poland are involved" said Hanczewski. According to Eurobuild's sources these include Hochtief Polska - Budokor Division, Porr Polska, and a consortium of PIA Piasecki and Besix. A notable absence is Strabag, whose bid was rejected at the first stage.