Public utility tender halted at court’s order

The Environmental Protection Bureau’s (DSPA) public tender for a wastewater treatment plant located at Areia Preta, which was supposed to be announced yesterday morning, has been suspended.
The suspension comes as one of the parties involved in the bidding process applied to the judiciary to pass the postponement.
Radio Macau has alleged that the party in question is CESL Asia, adding that the company has been warring with others interested in the tender for some time.
Yesterday morning, interested parties arrived at the site of tender to find a board stating that a suspension had resulted from a judiciary decision. The reason for the suspension has not been disclosed.
According to an official statement, procedural impediments to the tender have led the government to decide not to hold it. The statement adds that, when appropriate, the date and details relating to the new tender will be released to interested contenders.
The chief executive is able to cancel the suspension if he invokes public interest.
DSPA decided last year to open up the contract for maintenance and operation of the wastewater treatment plant to public tender, in order to select “a qualified operator.”