Arequipa: Cobra will claim US$ 1 million for changes and delays in Majes II

Majes Siguas II points out that it will end up costing more than US$655 million. Less than 8 months ago, a last increase of US$ 104 million was approved with the approval of technological changes to the project (Amendment 13). Cobra, the Majes concession company, not only demands US$ 120 million for damages in the stoppage of the work in direct dealings due to disputes that it maintains with the Autonomous Authority of Majes (Autodema). Besides, announced that it will claim US$ 1 million 5 thousand 893 for the changes for the repair of the spillway of the Condoroma dam. The water from the reservoir will also be used for the water demand of the integral project.

Joaquín Roura, representative of Cobra, explained that autodema has not taken into account the approved file No. 1B. The questioning is one of the 16 that the directors of the private sector presented. According to Roura, the entity ignored the use of material from quarries and landfills, unilaterally modifying the execution model. “We do not know why it has been removed when in many meetings with Autodema we told them to take into account the approved file in which the work is done in a certain way,” he said last Tuesday, March 14, at the Arequipa Regional Council.

autodema Through the approval of the Environmental Adaptation and Management Program (PAMA), it determined that material will be purchased that will be supplied at the foot of the work and “carrying material quarries or alluvial material extraction” will not be used. “This will have to be paid by the grantor because it changed it unilaterally (…) There is 1 million dollars that will cost what Autodema has changed and that the concessionaire will have to claim,” Roura stressed.

Also, Cobra accused of delays in the disbursement of payments. At the moment there are 5 payments made. For the private sector, Autodema has been in arrears, which has generated arrears that to date amount to US$ 178,883. “The concessionaire has no choice but to complain because it is not their fault,” he said.

For the regional counselor, César Huamantuma, the claim must be supported. He emphasized that it should be investigated whether there are responsibilities of the officials on duty, not only for these claims, but for all the breaches accused by COBRA by Autodema. “I am concerned about the level of officials, I do not know if they are up to the problem,” he declared.