ALMG Public Security Committee to Hold Public Hearing on Matec Engenharia and Uberlândia Airport Expansion

Public hearing at the Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais (ALMG)

The Public Security Committee of the Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais (ALMG) will hold a public hearing next Tuesday (11) to examine the effects of an alleged failure by Matec Engenharia to meet contractual obligations towards suppliers and service providers involved in the Uberlândia Airport expansion works in the Minas Triangle.

Scheduled for 9:30am in Plenary Room I at ALMG, the meeting was requested by Deputy Caporezzo and the committee’s chair, Deputy Sargento Rodrigues, both from the PL party. To watch, click here.

Allegations involving Matec Engenharia and the Uberlândia Airport expansion

According to information provided by Caporezzo’s office, Aena Brasil-the concessionaire in charge of managing and expanding Uberlândia Airport-hired Matec Engenharia to carry out the construction. Matec, in turn, is said to have engaged regional suppliers and service providers, including Trust Construtora, MAtrh Engenharia e Construção, and IPR Sondagens e Perfuração, but allegedly failed to make the payments due.

Reported financial impact on local firms

In the deputy’s account, the delayed payments have strained the cash flow of local businesses, raising the prospect of redundancies, a chain of non-payment, and damage to confidence across the region’s productive sector.

Caporezzo says he met an Aena representative in April, when the concessionaire reportedly undertook to settle outstanding amounts by the 15th of that month. He maintains, however, that the deadline passed without fulfilment and that the companies involved did not present a solution.

Caporezzo’s office also states that Matec sought court action to prevent public demonstrations by affected business owners-an initiative the deputy describes as an attempt to limit freedom of expression and restrict debate on a matter of public interest.

“This public hearing is an act of justice for the business owners and workers of the Minas Triangle. Matec Engenharia drew on the resources, labour and good faith of suppliers to carry out a public project financed with BNDES money and simply did not pay what it owed. This is not merely a private contractual issue. It is a matter of public security, economic order and respect for our community,” Caporezzo said.

Responsibility of Aena Brasil and possible referrals

In the deputy’s view, Aena Brasil, as a federal concessionaire, bears responsibility for impacts on third parties connected to execution of the concession contract and cannot step away from duties arising under Brazil’s public concession legislation.

“We will hear from those affected, demand answers from the responsible companies and develop concrete next steps, including with the TCU, ANAC and the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The Minas Triangle deserves respect: work performed and inputs supplied must be paid for,” he stated.

In the justification for his request, Caporezzo argues that local business owners and suppliers-who he says are creditors of the contractor-have entered a situation of double vulnerability: as well as not being paid for services delivered and materials provided, they have begun accumulating debts to their own suppliers.

The parliamentarian also reports that some companies say they have faced collection attempts they consider intimidating and disproportionate, creating concern among the business owners involved.

Representatives of the affected companies approached Caporezzo’s office seeking institutional support. Invited to the hearing are Aena Brasil’s representative, Filipe Coutinho dos Reis; the president of Matec Engenharia, Luiz Augusto Milano; representatives of the Uberlândia municipal government; the Public Prosecutor’s Office; and business-sector representative bodies.