Seven years after its conceptualization, the ambitious project that initially comprised the creation of eight markets has now been reduced to five, and the first will be ready in 2019.
It has been reported that from 2009 to date, about $300 million has been invested in a project that currently has only one market in operation, David, in the province of Chiriquí.This was inaugurated in 2014,"... despite not having permits for construction, occupation or water supply."
HPC Contratas P & V will not finish the construction of public markets and supply stores in La Chorrera, and the bond company will have to hire another company or pay the performance bond.
After three years of cessation of work by the contractor due to liquidity problems in the consortium HPC Contratas P & V, the state run Mercado Nacional de la Cadena de Frío decided to terminate the contract.
HPC Contratas P & V has announced it will resume construction of public markets and supplies to La Chorrera, and if progress is not demonstrated in the next three months, the bond will be implemented.
Prensa.com reports that "...The contractor, under investigation for alleged diversion of public fundsin the construction of the Convention Center at Amador, has promised to resume work on Tuesday, November 29, 2016. "
Ransa group plans to invest $4 million in the construction of a cold chamber in Guatemala and is preparing to expand its warehouses in El Salvador.
The Central American subsidiary of the Peruvian operator Ransa is also assessing whether the conditions are right to develop a cold chain in Honduras.In the case of the investments planned for Guatemala, it has been reported that the plan is to invest $4 million in total"... 2,000 positions, where there will be specialized containers forrefrigerated and frozen products. In addition, they will build a distribution center for dry goods, thereby increasing their ability to benefit customers. "
HPC Contractors, who were awarded the project, has suspended construction on the markets in the Cold Chain in the district of La Chorrera.
Prensa.com reports that disruption of the works was due "... to an alleged failure on the part of the government in making payments to the company."
"...The cost of the construction of the new public market is estimated at $10.6 million, while investment in the food market is $15.5 million, and both had a construction period of 13 months. "
Cold chain logistics improves for fresh produce exported by the region to the U.S. through the main port of Florida.
From a statement by the Trade Promotion Office in Costa Rica:
"The logistics center is the South Florida Logistics Centre which is operated by the company Flagler Global Logistics and is located next to Miami International Airport.
Panamanian Congress has welcomed the partial veto of a bill which would allow the privatization of 49% of the shares of the Cold Chain.
"... The project was approved on its first debate just 24 hours after President Martinelli sent the Assembly a note objecting to Article 4 of the bill, which stated that if the case arose where the State needed to capitalize the company Mercados Nacionales de la Cadena de Frío, SA., it could dispose of 49% of its share capital", reported Prensa.com.
In Panama plans are underway to create a law on the company Mercados Nacionales de la Cadena de Frío, which will manage wholesale and retail food markets.
From a statement issued by the presidency of Colombia:
The Cabinet Council has agreed to a bill authorizing the creation of the company Mercados Nacionales de la Cadena de Frío, S. A. and established the regulatory framework, and authorized the Minister of the Presidency, through a Cabinet Resolution to submit the rule to the National Assembly.
There are no situations where there is room for improvisation and, although the limits vary in flexibility, logistics applied to cold chains leave no room for error.
The complexity of cold chain logistics
It's not news that one of the determining factors in logistical planning is based on the profile of the goods: dangerous, general or perishable.
Refrigerated warehouses are an important part of the marketing process of fruit and vegetables. They demand careful planning in their design, construction, management and daily operations.
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Before building a refrigerated warehouse it is important to determine the requirements and environmental conditions of the site. The design must take into consideration the products to be stored, types, amounts, periods of production and storage conditions required for the product and the market.
Most of the loads of red meat cuts are prepared according to the preferences of the country or customer.
Generalities applicable to all frozen food:
Freezing is a very widespread way to preserve food products and it is common to move them using refrigerated transports. The load is placed in a state of suspended animation, allowing for it to be used weeks or even months after production.
It is crucial to control the temperature in a constant way.
The cold chain is the constant temperature control at all stages of a food product, from production to consumption, keeping it in the same temperature range and ensuring, thus, its good condition. It is called "chain" because it is made up of different stages, and if some are compromised, it could result in damage to the quality and safety of the product.
An industrial facility dedicated to cold storage of food products.
More precisely, we define a Refrigerated Warehouse as an industrial complex comprising premises, facilities and equipment permanently or temporarily dedicated to storing refrigerated food and may constitute in itself an autonomous refrigeration industry, be annexed to another larger center or have annexs to its activity.
As the final link in the Cold Chain, Mercapanamá may be used for agro-industrial processes for exports.
Acknowledging that the Food Market in Panama City does not have adequate infrastructure for marketing foods according to the best international standards, industry officials have decided to build a new center.
The food distribution center, called Mercapanamá, will be part of the Cold Chain system, with an investment of $125 million, reports Capital.com.pa.
Ten consortia have submitted bids for the construction and equipping of the Public Market and Food Market of La Chorrera.
With a reference price of $25 million, bids ranged from the $22.5 million offered by the Spanish consortium Acciona Infrastructures to $27.4 million offered by Cocige SA.
"HPC Contratas, IBT, Elecnor, Heymocol Procomon, Consultores Profesionales de Inginiera, FCC Construccion and Semi y Omega are the other groups interested in this best value tender. The evaluation committee will have five days to analyze the proposals", reported Prensa.com.