Home > Morocco > Safi Port Project Delay Threatens Minister’s Position Amid 500 Million (…)
Safi Port Project Delay Threatens Minister’s Position Amid 500 Million Dirham Loss
Tuesday 27 August 2019, by
The Minister of Equipment, Abdelkader Amara, has just requested an extension on the delivery deadline for the new Port of Safi. Showing a large delay and losses of 500 million dirhams, the project could precipitate his downfall.
The previous experiences of the Ministry have not served as an example to the Minister of Equipment, according to the daily Assabah, which refers to the royal anger that had followed the debacle of the "Al Hoceima Manarat Al Moutawassit" program.
Launched in 2013, the project was supposed to see the light of day five years later. But the haste of the service provider and the lack of compliance with technical and quality standards have led to the cracking of 700 concrete blocks forming the quay, making the mooring of boats impossible and the port inoperative.
The one-year deadline granted by the Government had not been enough for the provisional management in charge of the project implementation within the Ministry, forcing it to adopt a new decree on August 22 last, which postpones the deadline to October 2020.
Despite the extensions granted and the losses caused by these rearrangements, estimated at 500 million dirhams, in addition to the 600 million of the ONEE, the daily doubts the timely completion of the work undertaken in the Port of Safi.
Supposed to accompany the new thermal power plant in the city, its delayed delivery could jeopardize the chances of Minister Amara, who, according to the daily, will likely be among the departures from the Government related to the next cabinet reshuffle.