February 13 – Russia’ First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, in response to the falling value of the ruble and the increased cost on imported materials, has ordered a review of the supply chain for the infrastructure construction for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Shuvalov wants the removal of ‘intermediary’ companies who push the price of materials through their commissions.
There is also pressure to look at more ways to substitute imported equipment and materials to domestic Russian suppliers. The government has set a working group to explore the options available.
Currently imported materials account for about 70% of the construction materials for the World Cup 2018 build, according to Russia’s Sports Minister Vitaliy Mutko.
He believes that 20% could be knocked off this figure without need to enforce any change to current plans, and that a further 40% could be switched if the government changed certain criteria.
This could bring the share of domestic goods used for the construction of the stadiums to 90%. Mutko added that there is already a list of products identified and, now, specified at a fixed price, which will further reduce the cost of construction.
Meanwhile the deputy prime minister of Kaliningrad’s region Alexander Rolbinov has said that the cost of the new stadium that will host the 2018 World Cup matches will be RUB 10 billion (just $154 million at current exchange rates). He said the construction contract will be signed with the Crocus Group this week, once the company receives the required the bank guarantee.
Rolbonov said that the final project plans will be sent to central government for approval in June.
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