The Israel Airports Authority today announced that Minrav has been chosen to take over for the Turkish construction firm Ceylan, which went bankrupt while working on the Ben Gurion 2000 terminal project. Minrav will resume building the modernized terminal at Ben Gurion Airport. “Globes” reported the selection two weeks ago. Minrav’s share of the project is worth about NIS 150 million.
Minrav beat out other leading Israeli construction companies interested in the project, including Cementcal and Avi Arenson. The project is one of the largest of its type. Construction of the central terminal building was halted in October 2000, after the Ceylan concern, which owned the construction company, announced it was bankrupt and its bank accounts in Turkey were attached.
The Airports Authority had trouble choosing a replacement for Ceylan and took about six months to make the selection, which caused an additional delay in the opening of the new airport terminal. Minister of Transportation Efraim Sneh recently ordered the Airports Authority to expedite the decision in order to enable the improved terminal to be opened in the first half of 2003 – three years after the original target date.
Minrav’s was selected due to its attractive bid, compared with the other bidders, and its experience in projects of this type. Minrav is already a participating in the Ben Gurion 2000 project, setting up a three-storey bridge connected to the future terminal building.
Minrav is also cooperating with Cementcal to build a parking lot for the project. In addition to replacing Ceylan, Minrav, which will begin working on the project next week, will also carry out additional construction work which was not assigned to the Turkish company.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on April 17, 2001