Radu Miruță: Damen Mangalia Shipyard will be brought out of bankruptcy for the SAFE program with Rheinmetall
The interim Minister of Defense, Radu Miruță, said on Wednesday at “Interviurile Adevărul” that the Damen Mangalia Shipyard will be brought out of bankruptcy, because it is the only solution for Romania to produce ships together with Rheinmetall through the SAFE program.
The Damen Mangalia shipyard will be brought out of bankruptcy. Damen's photo
“Patrol ships will be made by Rheinmetall at the Damen Mangalia Shipyard on May 2visa-visa of the offer from Damen. Damen's offer was on something else, on other capabilities.
The Shipyard will have a one billion contract. It will be brought out of bankruptcy. It's the only option. The obligation for Rheinmetall is to make these ships at Mangalia. The obligation imposed by Romania was signed. Rheinmetall may or may not accept. This is Romania's limit, imposed by CSAT“, declared Minister Radu Miruță.
Asked when SAFE will be unlocked, the minister said that if it is not resolved very quickly, these contracts will no longer be able to be concluded. The Ministry of Finance is waiting for the EC's signature so that we can continue the steps.
“If we are late it will be a big problem, because other countries also have their programs. We are interested in producing in Romania. Those 3-4 tricksters who have reached 30 are very disturbed because we don't want that money to leave Romania.” said Miruță, referring to some past contracts that were supposed to generate production in Romania and ended up in other countries of the companies that had come with the offers.
The government recently approved an emergency ordinance that allows the state to take over the operational assets of bankrupt companies considered strategic for the defense industry.
In this scenario, the state could buy Damen Mangalia at liquidation value.
The move comes as Rheinmetall and shipping giant MSC officially announced they want to jointly invest in the shipyard.
“The takeover of the Mangalia shipyard by Rheinmetall and MSC would open positive perspectives for the naval and defense industry in Romania”the two companies sent in a joint statement.
The plan aims to transform the site into a dual-use industrial centre:
- civil shipbuilding;
- military shipbuilding.
Rheinmetall wants to turn Mangalia into a European hub
The German giant Rheinmetall, known for the production of military equipment and defense systems, is already present in Romania through Rheinmetall Automecanica Mediaș and the Victoria powder factory project.
The company plans to build in Mangalia four military ships financed by the European SAFE program, in a total amount of 920 million euros.
“The Mangalia Shipyard can become an important European production center for shipbuilding“, Rheinmetall representatives sent.
The Minister of Defense, Radu Miruță, recently stated that the four patrol ships will be built in Mangalia and that the modernization of the shipyard will be coordinated by the German group.
