Romania plans to resume construction of Siret-Baragan irrigation canal - media

The investment needed for the construction of the 190-kilometre canal is estimated at 2.6 billion euro and might be co-financed with EU funds, Mediafax (www.mediafax.ro) reported on Monday.

Land improvement experts have almost completed the necessary studies and the government will try to arrange financing for the project, Mediafax quoted agriculture minister Daniel Constantin as telling a news conference.

“I think that we will go for a public-private partnership, since investors from China and Russia have shown interest in the project. Considering the talks in Brussels, where the investments in the Siret-Baragan canal were discussed, works might begin in 2013,” the minister added.

China National Agricultural Group Corporation showed interest in the project in 2011.

The project dates back to 1987 when works on the first 50 kilometres began. The investment in the entire canal, including irrigation facilities, was estimated at 3.6 billion euro in 2003, according to data from the agriculture ministry's website.

The government has reviewed the project plans several times in the last 20 years but no further steps were taken for its implementation.

The Siret-Baragan Canal's flow rate is projected at between 50 and 200 cubic metres per second. The canal will secure water for irrigation, reduce flood risks and provide a water route for goods transportation.

($ = 0.7691 euro)