WAITING FOR THE BAHRAIN CAUSEWAY

SAUDI INDUSTRY and Electricity Minister Ghazi al-Qusaibi, has hastened to reassure bidding companies that the Bahrain causeway contract will be let soon. His pledge is important because several of the competing firms are becoming, not unjustifiably, impatient with the costly delay to the project. Unfortunately, such delays are all too common on large-scale projects in Saudi Arabia. Some firms involved with the Bahrain causeway scheme are already believed to have withdrawn from the bidding. Although the more confident of the remaining companies hope that the contract will be awarded by this summer, past experience hardly justifies optimism and firms may have to wait even longer.