The National Defense Ministry (MINDEF) transferred to the United States Army Corps of Army (USACE), equivalent to Q490 million, as part of the prefeasibility and design program. The operation was completed on Wednesday, July 30, with the intervention of the Ministry of Public Finance and the Bank of Guatemala, and required a budget readjustment.
The disbursement corresponds to the first payment established after the signing of the contract between both parties, on May 22, during a ceremony held at the National Palace of Culture. The funds come from the cash balance of the port.
“The transfer was already carried out. They received the first payment and, at the end of August, Adriel McConnell, representative of the US Army Engineers, will arrive. UU. And in charge of the project,” said José Antonio Lemus Guzmán, president of the EPQ.
He added that the first specialized technical group of the USACE will arrive in mid -September. The visit was scheduled for August, but it was postponed a few days due to the delay in disbursements.
Part of the works consist of the designs to enable docks 5, 6, 7 and 8, with the objective of Expand the capacity for attention to merchant ships that arrive at the port.
Planning tasks
Lemus Guzmán indicated that, together with McConnell, a planning program will be developed that will cover the different stages of the process and the intervention phases, including the arrival of the technical groups.
He recalled that, before starting construction to expand the docks, it is necessary to have a technical design, which will be developed by Usace specialists.
The project, called “Design, planning, construction and modernization of the EPQ”, was formalized with the visit to Guatemala, at the beginning of this year, of the US Secretary of State, UU., Marco Rubio, and represents a significant advance to specify the works.
Works to be developed
With the first completed payment, the arrival of the USACE technical team is expected in the coming weeks to begin with feasibility studies and analysis.
Then the execution phase will begin, which will run between 36 and 48 months.
What is it?
According to the schedule released in May, during the signing of the agreement, the project includes the following points:
- The extension and modernization of the EPQ will take between 36 and 48 months, after the signing of the acceptance letter between Guatemala and the US.
- Before starting construction, planned to last between three and four years, previous technical requirements must be met.
- The acceptance letter establishes maritime civil engineering work both on the docks and in the drafts, considered urgent measures.
- Long -term feasibility studies of the port enclosure will be developed and a final proposal will be presented by the USACE.
- The USACE will deliver the designs to enable docks 5, 6, 7 and 8, with the aim of expanding the capacity of attention to merchant ships.