The Regional Secretary for Sea, Science and Technology announced today the launch of the tender for the refurbishment and modernisation work of Vila do Porto Cold Storage Unit on the island of Santa Maria with a base price of 1.3 million Euros. 

Gui Menezes spoke on the sidelines of a meeting with the Board of Santa Maria Fishers' Association, as part of the Regional Government's statutory visit to this island. 

The tender, launched through Lotaçor, was published today in the Official Journal and the Official Gazette. 

With a completion period of 14 months, the contract work aims to improve the operating conditions of the Vila do Porto Cold Storage Unit and, consequently, the working conditions of local fishers and fish traders. 

The intervention provides for the installation of a fish processing room separated from the rest of the building with a proper air-conditioning installation and sanitary facilities, as well as a waste area and independent access areas. 

Moreover, it also includes the upgrading of the ammonia-based refrigeration system of that infrastructure with new insulation and the installation of a safety system, besides general improvements to the electrical installation and the electrical substation. 

According to Gui Menezes, this contract work falls within the Regional Government's strategy to “improve and modernise the cold storage network of the entire archipelago.” In this regard, “the intervention for the refurbishment of Horta Cold Storage Unit on the island of Faial is awaiting the Court of Auditors' approval to proceed." 

Also, this year, the Government will launch the tender for the refurbishment of Madalena Cold Storage Unit on the island of Pico as well as define the base price for the launch of the tender for the modernisation of Lajes das Flores Cold Storage Unit, “given the absence of bidder in these procedures." 

“We continue investing in infrastructures and equipment to support the fisheries sector whenever needs are identified,” Gui Menezes said, adding that, last year, the Regional Government built the wall of the beaching ramp at Anjos fishing port on Santa Maria Island.