Lucía Etcheverry, who will take over as Minister of Transportation and Public Works (MTOP) in the administration of the new government, expressed her intention to thoroughly investigate the concession of the Cuenca del Plata Terminal (TCP) in the port of Montevideo to the Belgian company Katoen Natie. This agreement, which was extended to 50 years by the government of the current president Luis Lacalle Pouhas sparked extensive debate, especially by the Broad Front (FA)who has questioned its implications.
In a recent interview on Desayunos Informales on Channel 12, Etcheverry highlighted the importance of accessing accurate information on the contract, raising the need to evaluate “what margins there are that allow us to recover sovereignty, especially for internal operations.” Likewise, he emphasized that his objective is to “recover resources for the country,” which implies an exhaustive review of the agreement signed with Katoen Natie.
Annulment action and analysis in progress
The future minister also mentioned the annulment action presented by the left coalition before the Administrative Litigation Court (TCA)which is currently under analysis. This action seeks to question the legitimacy of the concession and its terms, reflecting significant concerns about the possible effects on the local economy and the management of port resources.
Upon assuming his position, Etcheverry expressed his interest in obtaining “first-hand information” about the concession. This access will allow you to evaluate the possibilities of adapting the current contract and, eventually, define the actions to follow to guarantee the country’s interests in port management.
Divergent opinions on the agreement
Gabriel Oddone, the next minister of Economy and Financehas also expressed his disagreement with the extension of the contract with Katoen Natie. Oddone, who had previously worked as a consultant for the Belgian company, argued that, despite recognizing that a single container terminal could make economic sense, it also entails certain risks and challenges inherent.
In his analysis, the future minister recommended the implementation of regulatory and organizational changes to mitigate the risks associated with exclusiveness in the port of Montevideo. However, according to his statements, these suggestions were not taken into account by the current government, which led him to maintain that he “would not have signed” the agreement in the terms in which it was presented.
The Frente Amplio’s position has been focused on criticizing the concession system established in the contract with Katoen Natie. Oddone stressed that the questions by the FA are mainly directed towards “the specific form that was given to the concession contract.”
Although he recognizes that some of his colleagues in the political force have a favorable position towards exclusivity, establishing an internal disagreement about how the agreement has been managed.
