Cable: US embassy gave Bechtel Panama Canal bidding information [View All]

[rainbow4321]

Original cable: embassy tells US gov that they will keep in close contact with Bechtel to keep them updated on the info they were getting on the bidding process/companies


http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/06/09PANAMA519.html



Article about the whole thing:

http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20101218114819119

United States pushed for the contract to construct the expansion of the Panama Canal to be granted to the U.S. firm Bechtel, rather than the Spanish firm ACS and Sacyr, according to American diplomatic messages leaked by Wikileaks and published today by the newspaper El Pais. The US Embassy in Panama tried to find out how much the competing companies were going to bid, and met with the Panama Canal Authority to get the contract. In addition, the US Embassy tried to damage the image of Sacyr, which eventually won the contract, by saying the company was technically bankrupt and sowing doubts about their ability to carry out the project, doubts they say they shared with the Government of Panama.




On edit: 2nd cable about Bechtel..this one is after the contract was awarded to the Spanish bidder.


http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2010/01/10PANAMA1.html

Post provided relentless advocacy for the Bechtel
bid on the Canal expansion and understands through our continuing
close contacts with Bechtel that they, with their reputation for
coming in to clean up messes, are keeping a close eye on how the
project is advancing (or not).