Chilean companies frozen out of domestic ports privatisation
Chiles privatisation process has become a hotbed of controversy, with the executive vice president of the Maritime and Ports Chamber of Commerce, Rodolfo Garcí a, commenting that it is absurd that multinational stevedoring companies will be permitted to bid for concessions while domestic operators will be excluded.
He pointed out that the Chilean company Puerto Ventanas could not bid for concessions in either San Antonio or Valparaiso, because of perceived competition issues, while DP World and HPH would have no problem.
He added that this situation makes no sense given that DP World has already established the presence at Callao in Peru and would therefore be competition for Chile’s main ports.
Chile’s Competition Commission recently upheld an earlier ruling, which restricted the vertical and horizontal integration of interested parties in any future privatisation.
As a result, companies already operating or participating in the ownership, directly or indirectly, of the ports in the Valparaiso region can only take a maximum 15% stake in any future concession.
Those designated as “relevant users” will be restricted to a 40% stake.
The Chilean private port operator, Puerto de Lirquén, has indicated an interest in participating in the forthcoming privatisation of national ports.
However, given falling forestry traffic this year, the company believes that 2009 is not an ideal time to make investments in new projects.
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