The local Yapi Ticaret is favoured to win a contract for grouting and drilling works at the 510-MW Berke dam and hydroelectric project on the Ceyah river in the southeast, contracting sources say. The client is the private sector utility Cukurova Elektrik (CEAS), which valued the contract at an estimated $54 million in its original tender advertisement (MEED 23:8:96).

The company is favoured over the only other bidder for the contract, a consortium called Rokas of Italy's Rodio and the local Kasktas, a subsidiary of the local Enka, the sources say. The Rokas consortium won an earlier grouting contract of about $22.6 million.

Work in the present contract includes drilling and grouting of the grout curtain of the main dam, tailwater dam and power house, together with completion of the remaining excavation, supporting and grouting works of underground galleries.

The contract forms the third phase of civil engineering works for the World Bank-supported project. One-third of the main civils portion had already been carried out by Italy's Italstrade, but the company withdrew from the project in 1994 claiming non payment of $36 million by CEAS (MEED11:11:94; 16:9:94).