Prime Minister Victor Ponta said Wednesday CFR Marfa’s sale contract would be signed after CSAT endorsed it, possibly in September, and the privatization procedure would be completed in 60 days.
Earlier Wednesday, the Government approved the contract by which private railway company Grup Feroviar Roman (GFR) takes over 51% of CFR Marfa. The prime minister said the document would be sent to CSAT.
“If CSAT rejects the contract, it will not be signed,” Ponta said.
Bogdan Oprea, spokesman of President Traian Basescu, explained Wednesday that endorsing privatization contracts is not among CSAT’s duties, and accused Ponta of trying to evade responsibility regarding the privatization of the freight railway operator.
GFR recently won an auction organized by the Transport Ministry to privatize CFR Marfa and offered EUR202 million for a 51% stake in the railway operator. GFR also committed to invest RON900 million in the company and another EUR1.5 million in environmental projects.