Monjasa continues to monopolize the fuel business

The Monjasa company continues maintaining the monopoly of fuel distribution at the recently opened cruise port on the Amador Causeway.

This was also seen at the inauguration ceremony of the harbor for cruise ships, last Tuesday, when the ship from Monjasassociated with Pablo Torres, provided this service at that location.

It should be noted that even the company itself has come to the defense of this company, which retains exclusivity for this distribution service. Maritime Administration of Panama (AMP), to some questions.

In that time, AMP administrator Noriel Araúz indicated that Colón in 2000 had all the power to decide which company to hire to supply fuel to cruise ships arriving in Panamanian ports, thereby favoring the exclusivity held by the Monjasa company.

He even defended this exclusivity Araúz before the National Assemblyyear, when the representatives invited him to express himself on this and other problems concerning maritime affairs.

At that moment, representatives came to present Araúz himself comments on the exclusive business of fuel sales on cruises in Panamanian ports through the company Monjasa and contracts in favor Steward Agency, a boat service company; both are reportedly related to Pablo Torres, a personal friend of the AMP administrator.

Araúz toyed with some answers and never answered in the affirmativeabout his relationship with businessman Pablo Torres; He only said that it was not about direct contracts. But the official lied, saying Torres’ company was hired through competitive bidding, when in reality a questionable three-bid-per-invitation mechanism was used.’

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months remain for the current administration of the Panama Maritime Authority.

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At that time, cruisers complained about the problem of a fuel monopoly.

The administrator also did not explain what connection of Torres with the company Monjaswhich has the exclusive right to fuel cruise ships within two Panamanian ports for this activity.

The work that caused at the time an irritation to companies that use ports for cruise ships.

Proof of this is the 23 cruisers who reported that they were forced to do so supply bunker or fuel with one company, this refers to the company Monjasa.

It even led to Michael T. MacNamara, vice president of bunkering at Carnival Cruise Line, send an e-mail to Administrator Araúz, asking him to mediate to allow the opening of the fuel supply, since the shipping companies negotiate and contract the bunker supply several months in advance.

Then the company Norwegian Cruise Line has also decided to cancel operations in the country.

Also, at that time, Panama Shipowners Association (ARPA) He pointed out that in the explanation given by UP trying to justify these negotiations, the incorrect and monopolistic practice that was established in two ports for cruise ships in the country, under the complicit eye of the maritime entity, was omitted.

The statement signed by v ARPA’s Board of Directors, chaired by Rodrigo Hernández, He noted that this scandal threatens to plunge the country into new depths that affect its international image.

Despite all this warnings sent by this topic, AMP continues to maintain fuel distribution exclusivity with Monjasa, a company associated with Pablo Torres, a friend managed by AMP.