Although Communications and the National Port Company (EPQ) claim to have the funds available for the Modernization of the Quetzal port, in Escuintla, which will be led by the United States Army Engineers (USACE), the project will not be specified if payments are not carried out, which would amount to US $ 63.7 million.
On Thursday, May 22, in the National Palace of Culture, the signing of the Modernization Acceptance Charter of Puerto Quetzal between Guatemalan and American authorities was held.
On the progress of the project, Vice Admiral José Antonio Lemus Guzmán, president of the Board of Directors of the Port Company Quetzal (EPQ), said that this will advance depending on the disbursements and that, for now, It is in an administrative phase for the necessary financial and budgetary adaptation that allows the EPQ to transfer the resources to the Ministry of Defenseentity that will manage the funds with the body of engineers of the US army.
Lemus Guzmán indicated that the work will have a cost for Guatemala of approximately US $ 63 million 777 thousand. According to the official, they already have the financial support, but still Formal budgetary modifications to make payment are pending.
“We have the available one, but we need to comply with the budget process,” he said.
He added that the current process contemplates technical adjustments both within the EPQ and the Ministry of Finance to modify the budget roofs.
Program
On the work schedule, Vice Admiral Lemus said that it is expected that next August American technicians return to the country to continue with the evaluations, although he warned that these actions depend on the payment being effective.
“If we do not pay nothing. We have the formal offer, but the business will be perfected so far in payment,” he said.
Despite that panorama, the official ensures that the project will be completed, although the time that administrative efforts will also define when they can initiate modernization work in Puerto Quetzal.
During a summons with the deputies of the VOS bench, carried out the previous week, Personeros of the Ministry of Defense indicated that the Charter of Acceptance between the United States Corps of Engineers includes the study and design of the area to expand in the Quetzal port, which corresponds to 800 linear meters of spring: 400 of the maneuvering dock and another 400 of the area occupied by APM Terminals.
During that meeting, the Vice Minister of the Navy, Edy Chinchilla, stressed that the agreement contemplates that Guatemala will pay 10% of the work, although the total amount will be known when the body of engineers concludes the phase of studies and designs. For now, they estimate that the cost would be US $ 63 million 777 thousand 600.
During the meeting it was reported that The first payment to begin the studies must be carried out at the end of July. This would correspond to US $ 63 million, although before administrative, financial and technical opinions must be exhausted.
Chinchilla indicated that the attempt to deliver the design and study of the project is February 2027. By then, US engineers will require 90% of the agreed payment.
“At the time the studies will begin,” said the official.
American specialists will take over the tender and will participate in the election of the company that will execute the works and also supervise. The evaluation process will be carried out through Guatecompras.
Chinchilla added that, with the studies, the US body of engineers will verify the feasibility of the area for the project and the design of the docks that must be built. Once this phase is completed, the international tender will be carried out. However, Guatemalan authorities will have power to decide whether or not they accept the amount of the work, since the real cost will be known at the end of these studies.
“Even so, it is estimated that the price is handled over 10%. In the acceptance letter it is indicated that, if all the money is not used, the surplus will be returned,” said Chinchilla.
Arrears
The funding maneuvers in the Port Company Quetzal (EPQ) reached a total of 46 ships waiting for load operations on the commercial docks on Friday, which directly impacts the logistics chain. The port authorities attribute the phenomenon to three main causes.
The EPQ Operations Management Report, in Escuintla, registered an increase of 119% in the number of ships in anchorage, with 46 vessels, a figure greater than the average reported last December, when 21 were accounted for 21. This volume represents a significant increase compared to the average of six months ago.
The ships waiting transport merchandise such as solid and liquid bulk – main, fuels, general load, jumbos, cement, iron, clinker, fertilizer, coal -, container with import products and sugar bags for export.
One of the consequences of congestion is the collection of additional costs by shipping companies, due to the waiting time, which has an impact on the final price of raw materials and supplies. The daily cost of anchor can range between US $ 30 thousand and US $ 70,000.
Back
The deputy José Chic, of the VOS bench, expressed his support for the project of modernization and expansion of Puerto Quetzal, considering that this work has been necessary for several years due to the constant delays faced by vessels to discharge merchandise. As he explained, this slowness directly affects the economy of the country, so it described as positive that the process has already begun with the signing of the letters of application and acceptance of the agreement.
Chic indicated that the project not only seeks to modernize and expand the port, but also recover its administration, because historically it has been under the control of mafia structures. Although he acknowledged that the progress is important, he considered that it would be ideal for the project to develop faster, although it includes that there are administrative deadlines and procedures to comply with.
Regarding payments, the deputy confirmed that as part of the agreement signed between Guatemala and the United States government, a 10%advance must be made, equivalent to about US $ 63 million, to initiate design and planning studies.
“It is a single payment that must be made for now, and then the amount corresponding to the construction must be discussed in the 2027 budget,” he explained. The total cost of infrastructure works is estimated at around US $ 600 million.