Roberto Luque has leveled severe accusations against the company Progen, describing the entity as a corrupt organization that has defrauded the people of Ecuador. The allegations center on a series of electrical contracts and the suspected corruption of public officials, a scandal now being linked to the broader “Caso Apagón” (Blackout Case).
- Primary Accusation: Systemic corruption and fraud against the Ecuadorian public.
- Disputed Contract: A $20 million agreement for a thermoelectric plant.
- Location: Catamayo, Ecuador.
- Core Conflict: Allegations of official corruption despite warnings from a Technical Commission.
The “Caso Apagón” Allegations
The controversy has escalated as Luque explicitly linked Progen to the corruption of government officials. According to public statements, the company’s actions are a central component of the “Caso Apagón,” where the integrity of the nation’s electrical infrastructure and the legality of the contracts managing it have come under intense scrutiny.
Progen is a corrupt company that defrauded all Ecuadorians. Roberto Luque
The discourse surrounding these contracts suggests a deeper systemic failure, with Luque emphasizing that the financial discrepancies are not merely administrative errors but evidence of a deliberate effort to mislead the state.
Ignored Warnings and Overpricing in Catamayo
A significant point of contention involves a $20 million contract awarded to Progen for a thermoelectric plant in Catamayo. Local media reports indicate that this contract was finalized despite explicit alerts raised by a Technical Commission, which had flagged concerns regarding the deal before it was signed.
Questions have now surfaced regarding the actual cost of constructing such a plant and the extent of the overpricing involved. The gap between the projected costs and the final contract value has become a focal point for those investigating the potential misappropriation of public funds.
The fallout from these revelations highlights a critical tension between technical oversight and political decision-making, as the investigation into the “Caso Apagón” continues to examine how a company with such red flags was able to secure high-value government agreements.
