Mindelo, Cabo Verde, June 12, 2025 (Lusa) - The public company responsible for the ports of Cabo Verde (Enapor) will launch an international tender for the concession of the cold storage facility for fish in Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, which closed a year ago, the company's management told Lusa on Thursday.
“All negotiations have been cancelled. We will proceed with an international tender. Several operators have expressed interest. We must ensure equal opportunity and transparency in the process,” said Enapor’s chairman, Ireneu Camacho.
The government was in negotiations with a consortium formed by Spanish companies Ubago - owner of the Frescomar cannery, already present in São Vicente - Jealsa, a European canning brand and Mercadona supermarkets, to take over the unit.
The cold storage facility was managed by Atunlo, which suspended operations a year ago, leaving 210 workers on layoff (a measure that allows employment contracts to be suspended) for four months, receiving half their salary, due to voluntary bankruptcy proceedings in Spain.
Enapor has reactivated the facility and is preparing an investment plan, as well as defining the criteria for the public tender.
According to the management, there is already interest from consortia in Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Morocco and other countries.
By the end of July, the company intends to move forward with two projects: the reactivation of “warehouse two” — intended for freezing fish from local companies — and the reinforcement of transhipment, involving freezing for export.
“We have already refurbished some facilities and, by the end of the month, we will be completing normal repairs, typical of any industrial unit. We will soon be able to share more details about this phase of refurbishment, cleaning and maintenance of the assets,” he explained.
With the reactivation of the cold storage facility, Enapor expects a “very positive impact” on the resumption of fish transhipment and freezing, as well as on job creation.
Of the 210 workers who were laid off, 45 have already returned to equipment maintenance, factory cleaning and administrative support roles.
Enapor has paid all outstanding wages and social security contributions for workers and is training employees so that they can return to work by the end of the month.
Ireneu Camacho also said that Enapor’s financial situation is improving, even after paying workers’ wages.
“We are growing by around 16% compared to the previous year. Enapor is generating results and these are clear indicators of our stability,” he said.
The company took legal action in Portugal in January to try to recover €650,000 in rent owed by Atunlo through insurance, and the case is still ongoing.
The Mindelo fish cold storage and processing plant was inaugurated in 2015, with 51% of the capital belonging to Atunlo, 33% to Frescomar (Ubago) and 16% to Frigrove - all Spanish companies.
Atunlo wanted to become a benchmark in Europe and North Africa in the processing of tuna, mainly for canning.
Canned and frozen fish accounts for more than two-thirds of Cabo Verde’s exports to the European Union (EU), with Spain being the main buyer.
RS/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
