Agerpres quoted Mr Sorin Ovidiu Cupsa director at Administration of Navigable Canals as saying that the company in charge of designing and building the Danube Bucharest Canal will be chosen in early 2010, with works to take about 4 years.

Mr Cupsa said that "Half through 2009, we will conclude the feasibility study and towards the end of the year we will pick the company to design, erect and be granted a 49 year concession to operate the canal."

He said that the costs of the finishing works at the canal, completed in proportion of 70% in the late 1980s, will exceed EUR 500 million. The canal will link Bucharest to the Danube River, with the Pan European transport corridor number 7 respectively via a navigable means with a transport capacity of up to 20 M tons a year along the Budesti Oltenita section.