The State saves $ 3 million in evaluation of oil works

Ecuadornews:

Three international firms review the operation of five projects inaugurated during the previous administration. The technical and financial management reports will be delivered in December.

The technical analysis of five oil projects built during the previous administration will cost the State $ 3,304,157. The figure means about 50% less than the $ 7.5 million initially budgeted, informed the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Renewable, Carlos Pérez.

The official highlighted the processes implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) that led the tender for the selection of evaluation companies. The UNDP representative in Ecuador, Arnaud Peral, indicated that of the 43 firms that showed interest in participating in the tender, nine made technical offers and it was finally awarded to the three that obtained the highest score.

These are: the Spanish consortium ICC-Tecnatom, RPS Energy Ltd. of the United Kingdom and ABSG Consulting of the United States. The evaluation of the Monteverde El Chorrillo project, the Bajo Alto Liquefaction Plant and the Manabí Refinery (formerly Pacific Refinery) must be completed in 60 days; while for the Refinery of Esmeraldas and the Pascuales-Cuenca pipeline the term is 90 days.

The reports with the recommendations of the evaluators will be delivered to the ministry in December. The studies aim to make the technical and financial management of the projects transparent and to clarify the “suspicions” of poor resource management.

Perez said it is a priority to know the current condition of each work, the corrective measures required and the cost of putting them with international standards.

Currently only the Manabí Refinery is not operational, said Petroecuador manager Pablo Flores. The rest of the projects are in operation but “require corrective measures,” he explained.

The Esmeraldas Refinery processes 110,000 barrels of oil per day; and the Pascuales – Cuenca pipeline transports 1,100 barrels per hour. (I)

Source: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/economia/4/ahorro-evaluacion-obras-petroleras-ecuador