The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), extended to july the opening of offers call for national and international tenders for the award of a third free zonein the area of the El Jagüel airport in Maldonado.
The motives
An interested company consulted about the “bad odors” derived from the OSE wastewater treatment plant, which is located next to the property where the development of the future enterprise is projected.
The note sent to the Adjudication Advisory Commission explains that these “Bad odors” were found in successive inspection visits to the vicinity of the property being tendered, and when walking down Aparicio Saravia street.
The interested party stated that although the property is in a suitable location for the development of a mixed free zone from the point of view of accessibility and urban infrastructure, finds this situation derived from bad odors “highly worrying” for its commercial feasibility. In this sense, “the greatest attention is requested from the Administration.”
The OSE plant has been operational since 2013, that is, since before other developments that exist in the area, such as the Convention Center, the Pedragosa Sierra interchange and other real estate developments in the area.
Information request
In this sense, the interested party requested in the consultation carried out on May 11, that all information relevant to the design and operation of the plant be shared with him, “That allows to ensure the absence of odor emissions (emissions of sulfurous gases or others with odor) throughout the year and in different climatic and seasonal conditions of the population of Maldonado and Punta del Este”, says the text you accessed The Observer.
He also requested that the history of complaints from neighbors about odors or other relevant environmental aspects be shared with him since the beginning of the plant’s operation, and relevant information from the independent control entity of OSE “responsible for ensuring the proper operation of the plant, key indicators surveyed and their frequency and history”.
In addition, he indicated that in the event of verifying “some deviation” by the plant or complaints from neighbors (particularly in relation to odors or other environmental aspects of impact on neighboring prices), information is shared regarding the time obligations of the OSE to correct the themselves, and fines and/or sanctions in case of non-compliance.
The Adjudication Advisory Commission – made up of representatives of the MEF, the Directorate of Free Zones, OPP, the Presidency and the Municipality of Maldonado – is awaiting the report requested from OSE. In this context, the opening of offers was postponed until July 3.
an old problem
The interested party also cited a note published last January by the Punta del Este Correo newspaper, where he already realized the severity of the situation.
“For some time now, residents of the neighborhoods adjacent to the plant and the drivers who circulate on Camino Aparicio Saravia have to hold their breath due to the strong smell that is felt if the wind blows from a particular sector,” said a passage of the publication. There he also realized that the technicians from the OSE Decentralized Management Unit were trying to eliminate the bad smell.
Among the measures that were adopted was the change of some of the chemical products used in the treatment of wastewater that reaches the plant pumped from different points in the cities of Maldonado and Punta del Este.
the free zone
The property owned by the Municipality of Maldonado, is made up of two padrones and has 42 hectares. The free zone must have an industry profile and innovation and technological services.
The specifications indicate that the base price of the property of one of the registers will be US$ 4.1 million and for the right of the purchase option of the other, the amount will be equivalent to 1% of the price offered with a minimum base of US $3.3 million.
The winner of the tender agrees to pay 40% of the amount resulting from the winning bid with the signing of the deed of sale, and the remaining 60% will be paid in three annual, equal and consecutive installments, from the signing of the deed of sale.
The specifications indicate that the amount of investment in infrastructure to be provided by the developer must exceed US$15 million.
Within the investment requirements, one of the points refers to the maximum generation of employment. The conditions express that the offer that projects the maximum generation of direct and permanent employment throughout the free zone will be considered for the maximum score and as a point of reference.
Two other free zones are currently approved in the department: an audiovisual one that will work in the Buenos Aires spa area and another for services at WTC Punta del Este.
