NORTH AMERICA

Investment boom at San Antonio

22 years ago

$25m is to be invested in the Chilean port of San Antonio, of which $20m will come from the concessionaire San Antonio Terminal Internacional (STI) and the other $5m from Puerto Panul. STI will use the money to extend its quay 200 metres northwards. The project has already been given approval by environmental authorities and also by the Ministry of Public Works. Work is due to be completed within 15 months.

As for Puerto Panul, investment is to be made in upgrading logistics, repairing cranes and clearing areas for use as silos; this should help the terminal boost throughput from 10,000 to 15,000 tons per day.

Furthermore, San Antonio Port Company (EPSA) passed the 10m tonnes mark for the first year ever, which represents 10% growth over 2003;

container traffic equates to 65% of the total handled.

Port operator EPSA reports that seven sets of bidding rules were bought for the concession to operate a liquid bulk products terminal, which encompasses 21 tanks totalling 11,000 cu metres. The concession is for 15 years and will be awarded by the end of the first quarter; the new operator will commence operations in July.