The two railway carriers have several undergoing disputes regarding freight transport auctions.
“Grup Feroviar Roman signed a two-month contract for coal transport to thermal power plants Craiova and Cernele. GFR was designated the winner of the public auction for this contract. The contract was signed Friday, September 19,” GFR said in a statement.
The railway carrier will transport one million tons of coal under the RON5.3 million contract.
“This was the second auction held for this contract after the initial procedure, where GFR had been declared the winner, on September 4, was contested by the other bidder, CFR Marfa,” GFR added in its press release.
End-August, a court in Craiova overruled CFR Marfa’s petition to cancel an auction for coal transport for energy holding CE Oltenia, where the state-owned carrier is also competing against GFR. A GFR-led association of contractors bid RON255 million for the contract, while CFR Marfa bid RON256 million, sources with CE Oltenia told MEDIAFAX.
Romania’s settlement board rejected CFR Marfa’s call for cancellation late June and ordered the award procedure to be continued.
Meanwhile, GFR owner Stoica was placed under house arrest in May, on charges of corruption. He allegedly bribed a lawyer to disclose the bid CFR Marfa was preparing so his company could bid for a lower price.
Following Stoica’s arrest, CE Oltenia announced it would extend its existing coal transport contract with CFR Marfa.