The FINANCIAL — German Foreign Office is funding the construction of 300 houses for internally displaced persons in Shida Kartli, region that suffered from August War with Russia. Total budget of the project implemented by German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) is EUR 8 million.
“The GTZ has contracted two construction companies from Georgia: Block Georgia Ltd. for the foundations, walls, interior works and Wood Service Ltd. for the construction of roofs,” Eberhard Halbach, Team Leader of Housing Project for Internally Displaced Persons says.
GTZ is a federal enterprise based in Eschborn near Frankfurt am Main. The company also operates on behalf of other German ministries, the governments of other countries and international clients, such as the European Commission, the United Nations and the World Bank, as well as on behalf of private enterprises.
“The total budget for the project is Euro 8 Million. We have not received any additional funding for 300 houses,” Eberhard Halbach declares.
Wood Service Ltd was found in 1999. The company is located in Tbilisi, Georgia. From the date of establishment, it operates in timber processing industry.
“Years of active partnership with top American and European companies enabled Wood Service to become an exclusive representative in Georgia as well as in the whole Caucasus region. These are world’s leading companies such as Diotrol (exterior oils, Switzerland), Lägler (floor sanding machines, Germany) and other,” Officials of Wood Service report on company web site.
“Wood Service Ltd. is working with European partner companies, which are specialized in light weight, high quality roof construction systems and materials that are pre-manufactured in
European countries and shipped to Georgia,” Eberhard Halbach declares.
“Block Georgia Ltd. has procured all construction materials to the best of our knowledge on the Georgian market. Since not all materials are manufactured in Georgia (tiles, heaters etc.) some materials of the houses are to be imported,” Eberhard Halbach says.
From 2007 Wood Service has become an official representative in the Caucasus region of MiTek – world’s leading provider of steel connector products, design engineering software and ancillary services for the global building components market.
Company Block Georgia, which also takes part in the construction of houses for internally displaced persons in Gori was established in 1996. It’s in partnership with Medimex and Block a.s. Block Georgia is Czech-Georgian company. Block Georgia was nominated as the winner of the hospital sector development project financed by the Georgian Government.
Block Georgia is an official partner and representative of PANBEX s.r.o. in Georgia. PANBEX s.r.o. is a Czech company, which is manufacturer of the materials necessary for industrial floors.
“Major area of our activities is construction of Clean Rooms. Company has highly qualified staff in various fields of engineering, such as conditioning, ventilation, heating, automated management of the microclimate, power supply, water-treatment, water supply and sewerage system,” Block Georgia says.
Eberhard Halbach notes that the houses in Gori will be built according to size and material parameters provided by the Georgian government.
“Planning and construction process is undertaken with supervision of German team of architects, who are escorting and guiding the Georgian companies. We are constructing houses according to the Georgian legislation, with the permission of Georgian authorities, Ministry of Refugees and with Georgian companies and labor mainly from the region of Gori. The quality of houses will be good and to quality standards acceptable in Germany with drinking and waste water -, electricity – and gas connection to the individual house,” Halbach told The FINANCIAL.
“We have positioned a qualified Georgian construction supervisor on the site in Gori, who will seek best quality construction in close cooperation with all companies and institutions involved. It has also to be understood that the houses will be standard and have nothing what can be described as luxury. The Georgian companies will give a one year warranty of each house handed over,” Halbach says.
The construction period lasts from 1st February till 31st July 2009.
Eberhard Halbach says that low temperature has caused some delays in the time schedule of constructing the houses.
“We are in the middle of the process. The construction was hindered by the low temperature in February and beginning of March, it was difficult to utilize concrete for the foundation work. This has caused delays in the time schedule which the companies are still trying to catch up. It is planned to clear all delays in April and to continue construction works according to schedule. There are also some other problems due to old structures (foundations) found in the ground. They need to be removed before new foundations are erected,” Halbach says.
Written By Tako Khelaia
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