Builder expelled; projects seized
Ecuador expelled a top Brazilian construction firm, sending troops to seize projects worth $800 million. President Rafael Correa ordered the government to take over the projects, which include a small regional airport, two hydroelectric plants and a rural irrigation project.
The president is battling with the firm, Odebrecht, over a dam the government says was badly built. His decree accused Odebrecht of “putting public services at risk.”
The San Francisco hydroelectric dam was completed last year but is not functioning because of damaged machinery.
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