Turkish contractors of BTC pipeline await $200 mln payments

The companies awaiting for payments are: Alarko Holding who undertook 468 kilometers of 1,071-km long BTC, Limak who undertook 368-km, and Tekfen who undertook construction of the Ceyhan Terminal.

The payments are said to be made after British Petroleum (BP) transferred an aggreed amount of $333 mln to the BOTAS accounts, EkoTurk News Agency reports.

Speaking on behalf of the contracting companies, Alarko Holding General Coordinator Ayhan Yavrucu said, "We, all contractors with different undertakings, have collectively demanded the payments to be made by BOTA". Final figures should be calculated and paid with the money BOTAS is to collect from BP. Contractors' total receivables may be around $150 to 200 million. We know that BP and BOTAS agreed between themselves. The agreeement was approved by the BP board. Now, it should be approved by the BOTAS board. We expect it to take place soon."

Limak Inshaat President Nihat Ozdemir said on the matter that they were trying to get their receivables exceeding $150 million, adding "Our struggle has been going on for two years. They did not appreciate us and our employees, as much as the bird in the air and grass on the ground. I think problem stems from BP. If BP transfers the money, BOTAS will make the payments. We are trying for this to happen at shortest possible time."