Chilean port tenders inspire bidders

Container terminal tenders for Valparaíso’s Terminal 2 and San Antonio’s Terminal Costanera Espigón have attracted interest from 17 potential bidders.

According to the Transport Minister, Felipe Morandé, the tenders should pave the way for a third operator to join incumbents STI and TPS, thereby providing competition both within the ports and between them.

If, he said, the economy of Chile rises by 6%, as predicted, then existing port capacity will be exhausted by 2014.

Nevertheless, many existing Chilean port operators believe that both projects are flawed and unnecessary. They stress that by building extra capacity at existing terminals, the predicted rise in traffic could easily be met. Furthermore, they claim that a suggested outer harbour development at San Antonio would make more financial sense.