Minister of the Environment says that Transtejo/Soflusa’s decision “was the best” at the time

“I am absolutely convinced that the decision was taken in the awareness that it was the best that could be taken at the time”, said the head of the Environment and Climate Action portfolio, Duarte Cordeiro, who oversees urban transport, in statements to journalists in Évora.

The official said that these decisions by the Transtejo/Soflusa administration were taken because it was understood, at the time, that they were the “fastest to be able to promote” the operation of electric boats on the Tagus river.

Duarte Cordeiro was speaking about a TdC report in which the board of directors of Transtejo/Soflusa is accused of illegal and irrational practices and following which he asked for his dismissal, which the Government has already accepted.

At issue is the purchase of nine batteries, for a value of 15.5 million euros (ME), in an additional contract to another contract previously inspected by the TdC for the acquisition, for 52.4 ME, of ten (one of them already with battery for testing) new ships with battery-electric propulsion, to ensure the public service of passenger transport between the two banks of the Tagus.

“Transtejo bought a complete ship and nine incomplete ships, unable to function, because they did not have the necessary batteries for this purpose. The same would be, with the necessary adaptations, buying a car without an engine, a motorcycle without wheels or a bicycle without pedals, reserving it for a subsequent procedure after its acquisition”, considered the TdC.

In statements to journalists, at the end of awarding the Honoris Causa doctorate to the architect Carrilho da Graça, the minister stressed that the Government will have to “take decisions quickly” to be able to “award the batteries in time for the arrival of the boats”.

“This TdC decision is an obvious inconvenience and we have to quickly look at it and make decisions”, he underlined, pointing out as urgent the appointment of a new administration for the company and the constitution of a working group.

With “legal and financial” valences, he explained, this working group will analyze the TdC report and point out a path for “the necessary public procurement procedures” for the acquisition of batteries for the boats.

The PCP and BE have already requested the hearing of the Minister for the Environment and Climate Action and the board of directors of Transtejo/Soflusa, following this TdC report.

In addition to the hearings of Minister Duarte Cordeiro and the company’s management requested by blockers and communists, the PCP also wants to hear the TdC.

The president of the board of directors, Marina Ferreira, told journalists today that “the procedure was well done and promoted the public interest”, stating that the considerations of the Court of Auditors are “offensive and outrageous”.

Transtejo is responsible for connecting Seixal, Montijo, Cacilhas and Trafaria/Porto Brandão, in the Setúbal district, to Lisbon, while Soflusa makes the crossing between Barreiro, also in the Setúbal district, and Terreiro do Paço, in Lisbon .

The companies have a common administration.