Republic of Moldova’s state railway company (Calea Ferata din Moldova – CFM) plans to use loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and European Investment Bank (EIB) for a railway rehabilitation project covering about 250 kilometres on the Bender-Basarabeasca-Etulia-Giurgiulesti section.
According to CFM, the tender for this railway infrastructure rehabilitation is scheduled to be launched in the third quarter of 2018. The EBRD stated that the tender for the contracts is due to start on August 15, and the proposed project has an estimated total cost of EUR 100 million.
Tendering for this railway section infrastructure rehabilitation is planned to be based on Design and Built by the Contractor arrangements. It will be open for any interested contries to attend.
Until then, the CFM has invited interested and qualified companies to attend a project presentation scheduled for June 20, at the headquarters of the company, after which a visit will be organised on the Chisinau-Bender-Basarabeasca-Etulia rail section. On this occasion, CFM will also present the procurement strategy.
We remind that the restructuring strategy of the CFM, approved since 2015, involves the acquisition of rolling stock and the rehabilitation of the railway infrastructure. For the project, the EBRD and the EIB are willing to provide credits of EUR 52.5 million each and the European Commission can provide a grant of EUR 5 million. The first part of the strategy implies the purchase of 11 electric diesel locomotives suitable for both passenger and freight transport. Also, related maintenance equipment is to be purchased.
The second part of the strategy aims at rehabilitating the railway infrastructure. The works will be concentrated on the Bender-Chisinau-Ungheni-Balti-Ocnita and Bender-Basarabeasca-Etulia-Giurgiulesti corridors. According to experts’ estimates, CFM needs at least EUR 400 million to rehabilitate rail infrastructure and to purchase rolling stock, without taking into account the costs for the electrification of the railway network.
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