The long-running farce continues with Albufeira council launching another public tender for the design, construction and operation of a crematorium.
The company chosen will be responsible for the financing, design, construction and maintenance of the crematorium, as well as for the supply, installation, maintenance and repair of all equipment and, of course, for running the long-awaited facility.
Albufeira council, when it was being run by interim mayor José Carlos Rolo, first launched a public tender in December 2012 for the construction and management of a crematorium, stating at the time that there were “parties interested in the investment.”
Nothing happened until March 2016, when the council announced that there might “soon be a crematorium available to handle some of the 5,000 deaths a year in the Algarve.”
Its definition of ‘soon’ was, “sometime in 2017,” and so, good to its word, a new tender was been released this May.
According to the document, the amount to be charged for a cremation "must not exceed €450" - with the council on a 20% commission.
Companies have 60 days from May 4th to submit tenders for a concession period of 30 years.
Over in Faro, the Sociedade Funefaro Gestão de Crematórios Lda won a tender in 2011 to build a crematorium but failed even to start work. The agreement lapsed and the council is claiming €309,000 in compensation.
In May 2016, Faro council launched another open competition with bids to be submitted by July 28th but there has been no news since.
Currently, bodies for cremation are taken to a facility in Ferreira do Alentejo near Beja.
The demand is estimated at around 40 cremations a month from the Algarve and lower Alentejo. Families in Lisbon and Oporto have access to local crematoria for their deceased.
Loulé council once planned to build a crematorium, but the sponsoring company decided to pitch for the Faro concession in 2011.
Portimão council has always wanted a crematorium, but only after it has “built a new cemetery,” which it hasn't.
Funeral Directors working with families who wish their loved ones to be cremated, are used to council promises of “next year” and until the Algarve has a working crematorium, it's business as usual at the facility near Beja.
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As part of afpop's seminar programne for 2017, the popular 'Dignified Dying in Portugal' presentation will be held in:
- Cascais, Casa de Santa Maria on 9th May
- Boavista Golf Clubhouse in Lagos on 16th May
- Municipal Library in Tavira on 17th May
Servilusa Funeral Agencies
Eduardo Serra Jorge and Maria Josè Garcia - Sociedade de Advogados
Blevins Franks
British Consulate
