Disquiet over Manta concession emerges

Many view his inability to advance the proposed concession process, which covers future port operation, as the main reason why he was dismissed, however Mr Lazo dispute this.

Trajano Andrade, president of Manta Civil Council, is now planning a citizens’ assembly to put pressure on the government to take the port rebuilding project forward at a much faster rate. Others have criticised the lack of transparency in the tender process.

Only two companies are known to have indicated an interest in the concession: one of these is Chinese, the other Chilean.

Mr Lazo has indicated that the reason he believes he has been replaced is because that in the concession he had wanted to ask for an annual fee higher than the $250,000 that it stipulates.

“We had asked [in the past] for a lot more, however it wasn’t feasible,” he said.

Ecuador’s deputy Transport and Public Works Minister, Álex Pérez, said that the concession process will continue and that several companies are interested. “The idea is to get the most number of bidders in order to evaluate the best bid. In November we will know who the port concessionaire will be,” he said.