パナマ運河拡張工事を請け負っているスペインのSacyr会社は、建設ひ増大の問題でパナマ運河当局との契約を交渉するが、どんずまりの様子
La crisis del Canal entra en su etapa final sin que se vislumbre un acuerdo
EFE Economía Panamá 24 ENE 2014 - 17:43 CET
The Canal crisis enters its final stage with no agreement in sight
Panama Economy EFE 24 ENE 2014 - 17:43 CET
Negotiations between the Panama Canal Authority (ACP ) and the consortium developing the expansion of the road are in a defining step that may culminate next February 1 , without, at least for now , an agreement in sight to prevent temporary suspension of work .
The genesis of the conflict are " overruns " in excess of 1,600 million dollars , says GUPC consortium led by the Spanish Sacyr and Impregilo Italian left without liquidity to continue the project , one of the most important engineering world .
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP ) does not recognize the extra costs considered unjustified assumptions , and requires an international arbitration under the contract rule on the matter .
Negotiations started on 7 July probably extend into the middle of next week, the president said Thursday the Board of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP ), Roberto Roy , who declined to delve into the matter.
At the same time, the Grupo Unidos por el Canal ( GUPC ) announced in a statement that a negotiation protocol agreed by the parties in principle expected to hold talks until 1 February.
An eventual suspension of work after that date is the biggest fear in Panama , although the ACP administrator , Jorge Quijano, has said it would try to resume as soon as possible, even in 15 days to avoid a delay that prevents the extended channel begins to operate after 2015 .
The third set of locks that will allow the passage of ships up to 12,600 containers, triple the current , should be ready in October this year, but before the current conflict and the consortium announced a delay of nine months, until July 2015.
What is now at issue is a proposal by international firm Zurich , secured the project design and construction of the third set of locks was awarded the tender GUPC in 2009 , for its offer of 3,118 million , down from 3,481 seats a maximum price for the Canal.
The insurer entered into negotiations this week and presented in a marathon tripartite meeting on Tuesday , a proposal that, according to Quijano said, could give a "long-term " solution to the conflict .
Nothing official has transpired in Panama on the terms of the proposed Zurich , but local media speculated a round figure of 850 million dollars to provide liquidity to the project , which until now has advanced about 70 %.
Zurich would give $ 400 million bail , which would become a loan to GUPC , which in turn would provide $ 100 million , while the total ACP would take 350 million in advances secured by letters of credit payment .
The ACP said the consortium has paid a total of $ 2.831 million , 784 repayable advances , plus at least $ 160 million in additional costs.
According to Panamanian press, Zurich proposal was originally frowned upon by the consortium, but last Tuesday afternoon , after a pause of the tripartite meeting , contractors apparently backed down .
Neither party has confirmed or denied that version in Panama , although its distribution coincided with a request from the European Commission ( EC) to the consortium to make a " special effort " to resolve the conflict.
So last Thursday expressed the EC Vice-President Antonio Tajani, whose mediation was requested by European companies making up the consortium , which was immediately dismissed by the Panama Canal Authority on the grounds that the contract does not provide for intervention third .
The involvement of the insurer in the talks has been framed by Quijano within the plan B of the ACP, including an eventual decision to finalize the project itself with subcontractors.
To lay hold of that last resort , the Canal Authority has access to 1,500 million dollars, according to Quijano , who has spoken with various contractors to GUPC .
Panamanian Foreign Minister Fernando Nunez Fabrega, said this week that the ACP already has offers from some of the companies that participated in the 2009 project bidding and " have the ability to complete the work ," without giving a name.
But most desirable for cost and time issues is that GUPC go ahead with the project, has recognized the ACP .
While the parties meet " almost daily " in search of a solution , according to Roy, the redevelopment of maintaining more than 90 % of paralysis , said this week the Panamanian Labor Minister Alma Cortés.
In a statement, Cortes said that 2,627 workers in various phases and project areas have been laid off since last November , a figure who support unions .
Quijano said Tuesday that the works have not been suspended but that the drop in the pace of work exceeds 70% , compared with November , and that is grounds to terminate the contract.
The consortium has not referred to the loss of jobs or layoffs reported by the authorities and trade unions, but in a letter of notice of suspension issued last December claimed that the work would continue " normally."
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