In Guatemala, increasing pressure is being put on the government not to award a follow-on concession to APM Terminals for the Quetzal Container Terminal (TCQ), following its takeover of the original concessionaire, TCB Group, which has subsequently been alleged to have been involved in corruption.
Instead, the country’s Comptroller General of Accounts is recommending that the original contract be declared null and void and a new one initiated.
In the meantime, US-based Ports America has declared its own interest in operating the terminal.
According to local press reports, Ports America wrote to Quetzal Port Authority (EPQ) on December 31 to explore operational possibilities and is seeking a meeting with EPQ to look into ways in which it might be able to assist “the government of Guatemala at this critical time”.
APM Terminals, for its part, stated that it owns an 85% stake in TCQ, acquired through its buy out of Grup Maritim TCB. With that purchase completed, the TCQ facility will be ready to begin operations within the next few weeks, said the operator.
“We have a valid usufruct agreement in place and are in the process of obtaining a concession agreement,” an APM Terminals spokesperson told Port Strategy.
Source: Port Strategy (LF)
Source: Port Strategy