The first tenders covering new concessions in Brazilian ports are due to be issued on October 25, allowing an auction to take place on November 25.
However, consultations are taking place that suggest there may be last minute changes to terms and conditions.
The Brazilian Association of Port Terminals (ABTP) has identified no fewer than 16 points containing "technical and legal improprieties”. As a result, it has requested a 30-day extension to the process to discuss incorporating changes.
Prospective investors wishing to participate in tenders, either at the Port of Santos or in ports in the north-eastern state of Pará, may find that the investment required is 50% higher than originally forecast.
This massive distortion - found in documents issued by the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq) - stems from omissions and inaccuracies in earlier studies undertaken by EBP on which Antaq relied when drawing up tender documents.
In some cases, for example, the physical limits of each terminal are not clearly demarcated, while cargo and volumes to be handled are not wholly identified. Antaq issued the public consultation notices regardless of the fact that there were internal recommendations suggesting that further analysis and adjustments were needed before their release.
