Government of the Azores has already analysed application for new tuna processing plant on Pico
The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stressed today in Madalena that the application submitted for the construction of a new tuna processing plant on Pico was analysed "in record time."
"The responsibility now lies with the company, which will have to answer the questions that have been posed," said Gui Menezes. He spoke to journalists at the end of a hearing at the Committee on Economic Affairs of the Legislative Assembly, adding that "if all goes well, the application might be approved by the end of this month, as previously stipulated."
The Regional Secretary alluded to the application for community support submitted by the company PDM, Transformação e Comércio de Pescado, Lda. for the construction of a new plant in the same place where the current Cofaco plant is installed.
Gui Menezes stated that the company received last Monday a notice requesting an answer to "two questions that will have to be answered within 10 days" in order to ensure to approval of the project.
"It is now necessary for the company to increase its share capital by about 1.1 million Euros," as it has to fund 15% of the total investment value with its own resources, said the Regional Secretary. This is a requirement imposed by the rules on the support granted under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
The project for the new plant, to be built in the same place of the current plant, provides for an eligible investment of 6.7 million Euros. The granting of public support will reach 65%: 1.1 million Euros from the regional budget and 3.3 million from Community funds.
During the hearing, the Regional Secretary emphasised that the Azorean Government has undertaken efforts to ensure that the Cofaco plant on Pico "would not halt its operation without submitting an application for Community support for the construction of a new plant."
Gui Menezes also criticised the "political use" of COFACO labour situation by opposition parties, mentioning that, "unfortunately, in these cases, the administration is attacked by doing and saying or by not doing and not saying enough."
"I am deeply sorry that some political forces have taken advantage of Cofaco workers to attack the Regional Government and to try putting the burden of everything on the Azorean Government," said the government official.
"In this process, regardless of the entity involved, we have always acted within the law and our main concern were the workers and the economy of Pico Island."