New tender for La Unión

The initial tender, which was issued to attract private operators for the container terminal, was declared void through a lack of bids in 2015. The lack of an operator has meant the port has been handling lower than expected traffic levels since it opened in 2009 and has not received any container traffic at all since 2013.

Mr Vanegas said that although CEPA is currently drafting the contract and the bidding rules, it remains open to other means of operating the port, other than as a concession. It could pass a law allowing services to be provided in other ways.

Separately, CEPA is shortly to published master plans for the development of the ports of Acajutla and La Unión.