Petrolina waterworks concession bids due Dec.29

Technical and economic bids for a 25-year concession to operate Brazilian city Petrolina's water utility Aguas de Petrolina are due December 29, a municipal tender department official confirmed to BNamericas. Petrolina has more than 200,000 residents. In October, none of the four groups that pre-qualified earlier this year submitted offers, arguing that the minimum bid price was too high and that the payment scheme was not economically favorable. The official said that although a number of companies - some in consortium - have expressed interest and are studying bid rules, none have registered with the tender department to date. The concession process began in January when the city signed a service termination agreement with Compesa, which will have a 20% stake in Aguas de Petrolina and continue providing service until the new utility begins operations.