Maputo — The consortium formed by the Portuguese companies Mota-Engil and Soares da Costa has asked the Mozambican government for a further million euros (1.36 million US dollars) to complete the new bridge over the Zambezi, linking Caia in Sofala province to Chimuara in Zambezia.

According to a report in Monday's issue of the independent daily "O Pais", the consortium is seeking this extra money as "compensation" for expenditure on reconditioning equipment that was affected by the severe flooding on the Zambezi at the start of this year.

The director of the bridge project, Elias Paulo, told the paper there has already been one session of negotiation with the contractor to seek an amicable solution.

It is most unlikely that the Portuguese companies will receive the money they have requested. For the independent company inspecting work on the bridge puts the cost of reconditioning equipment damaged in the floods at only 568,000 euros.

The consortium is now reviewing the sum claimed, and is expected to submit a revised figure within a few days. "We're working on the figure, and I believe we will reach agreement on a reasonable sum", said Paulo. Without the extra money now requested, the total budget for the bridge is 78 million euros.

The bridge is now 65 per cent complete, and if all goes according to plan the work will be concluded by the end of May 2009. But the Zambezi Valley rainy season is approaching and once again the forecast is for above normal rainfall. This year's floods put back the completion date by 80 days, and further flooding might force another postponement.

When finished, the bridge will be 4,900 metres long, and will form a key link in Mozambique's main north-south highway.

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