The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated that the works in the São Miguel Slaughterhouse, which represent a total investment of three million Euros, will be completed by the end of the first half of 2018, increasing the installed cold storage capacity of that infrastructure.
 
"The Government expects the work to be completed by the end of the first half of next year," said João Ponte, who spoke during the signing of a contract for the supply and installation of refrigerator equipment in São Miguel Slaughterhouse, amounting to 1.4 million Euros.
 
In addition to the acquisition of new refrigerator equipment, the slaughterhouse is in the final phase of construction works. This represents an investment of 1.5 million Euros that includes the expansion and remodelling of technical facilities, fluid networks and the electrical grid.
 
João Ponte also said the delay in this work was due to problems unrelated to the Institute of Food and Agricultural Marks (IAMA), which manages the networks of slaughterhouses in the Azores.
 
"The company that initially won the tender for the supply of refrigerator equipment has never managed to submit the necessary documents for the signing of the contract since it entered a special revitalisation process," the government official revealed, adding that this situation has led the Region, through IAMA, to launch another tender procedure.
 
The company Frincor, which has now won the international public tender, will have six months after the Court of Auditors' approval to carry out the contract work.
 
The Regional Secretary pointed out that the works in progress will increase the cold storage capacity of this slaughterhouse to 440 carcasses, due to the construction of four new refrigerator chambers.
 
This measure falls within the Regional Government's policies to stimulate and revitalise the production of tradable goods to increase the Region's export capacity and reduce imports. It also intends to consolidate the implementation of structures for cutting, processing, preparation and enhancement of meat products.
 
In addition to the works taking in São Miguel Slaughterhouse, João Ponte pointed out that the construction works of the new slaughterhouses on the islands of Faial and Graciosa as well as the contract work the expansion of Terceira Slaughterhouse. These interventions represent an investment over 15 million Euros.