Uruguay: Discussions started between the new center-left government of Yamandú Orsi and the private companies, commissioned by the previous right-wing government just before leaving (see previous Blue News). Here the latest as reported by Camila Méndez for the newspaper La Diaria:
OSE’s Drinking Water Management says it will be “difficult to determine responsibility” for problems with the Neptuno project.
Technicians point out that private entities have not yet submitted the “core contract document.” They emphasize that “a private entity will impose conditions on the decisions OSE will make regarding water treatment” and that the signed commitment “is not aligned with achieving the best water quality.”
On 30 April, the negotiating table formed by members of the Yamandú Orsi government and the Montevideo Water Consortium, which includes the private companies Saceem, Berkes, Ciemsa and Fast, began its work. It was the first meeting after both parties agreed to suspend the execution of the contract for the Neptuno-Arazatí project for 90 days. Announcing this latest measure, Alejandro Sánchez, Secretary of the Presidency, stated that the initiative to build a water treatment plant supplied by the Río de la Plata “does not resolve the underlying problem” and that the government was considering “all scenarios”: that Neptuno “continues with modifications”, that it “does not continue” or that “other works are carried out”. While some authorities have provided clues, little has been revealed about the debates within the government and the negotiations.
Read the full article in the Spanish original or in English (google translation)
