• 2 min de lectura
• 2 min de lectura
With the purpose of guaranteeing the continuity of public port services and avoiding impacts on the country's foreign trade, the Board of Directors of the Costa Rican Institute of Pacific Ports (Incop) approved the extension of the concession contracts for the general cargo terminal and the bulk terminal of Puerto Caldera until August 31, 2027, while the bidding and awarding process for the modernization of said facility concludes.
The decision responds to the fact that the bidding process still does not have a firm award, and the current contracts are nearing their expiration. Given this scenario, Incop indicated that it must ensure that port operations continue without interruptions, avoiding impacts on national trade and the country's logistics chain.
The one-year term was defined after evaluating the most favorable scenario for the conclusion of the concession process, granting only the strictly necessary time to comply with the legal, administrative, control, and transition stages towards the new contract.
"With this decision, we avoid any interruption in the operation of Puerto Caldera, protect the national logistics chain, and provide certainty to port users and the country's productive sector. It is important to highlight that this extension does not modify the current concession conditions; it only extends the necessary period to complete the legal, administrative, and transition stages towards the new operating model," stated Incop's executive president, Wagner Alberto Quesada Céspedes.
Should the Comptroller General of the Republic of Costa Rica issue a favorable resolution on the appeal related to the bidding process, this period will be sufficient to complete the orderly transition between contracts.
If the resolution were different, the Administration would timely assess the need for a new extension, Incop affirmed.
Once the new concession is awarded, the extension will remain for the approved period, as it corresponds to the minimum time required to adequately complete all implementation and operational transition stages.
Following the adoption of this decision, the concessionaires must immediately present to Incop an updated Maintenance Plan for the port infrastructure, in order to ensure the operability, safety, and proper functioning of the port during the next year. This measure will allow for the continuity of operations while the planned actions are developed.
