South American ports expand infrastructure

Incumbent providers at the existing port can bid for the concession, although this would require the intervention of the competition authorities and, almost certainly, involve them in giving up their existing container handling facilities.

The first phase expansion of the port, which will take place 2014-2018, will require investment of $1.2bn from the central government and a further $600m from the private sector to fit out the terminal.

Separately, on September 4, the government of El Salvador issued a tender in respect of the Port of La Unión, whose infrastructure was completed in 2008 and is currently managed by the Autonomous Port Executive Commission (CEPA). On offer is a concession encompassing the management and operation of the entire port, with a requirement to invest $30m in the first ten years.

SAAM, Grup Maritim TCB, Bolloré Africa Logistics and ICTSI are all prequalified.

Finally, in Chile, both private and state enterprises are scheduled to invest $700m in 2015 on new terminals and to improve logistics infrastructure.