The construction and operation of four of the six new terminals of the port will increase the capacity of 22.02 million tons to 60.09 million at the end of the EPN presidential period, per the SCT.
20 days away from the bidding rules publication to participate in the construction and operation of the projects Some 40 companies -- including SSA, AMP Terminals, Hutchison Ports, Cargill, Vopak, CICE and Amports -- are showing interest.
The maritime enclosure located in the southeast of the country is the most important supplier of goods for the City of Mexico.
According to the Port and Merchant Marine Coordination (CPMM), under the Ministry of Communications and Transportation (SCT), with such works the operational capacity of the port will triple: from 22.02 million tons in 2012 to 60.09 million at the end of the term of President Enrique Peña Nieto in 2018.
This will be possible with an investment of 30 billion pesos, of which the private initiative will contribute 80 percent and the remaining 20 percent will come from the public funding, per data from the Integral Port Administration (API) of Veracruz.
These works include the dredging that is already being done, the construction of a dock and the installation of terminals to load and unload the goods of ships, as well as space destined to warehouses.
The port, which faces a state of saturation by mobilizing 24.5 million tons per year, has an area of influence that includes 15 states of the country, home to 67 million people, and is the main route of import and export of goods serving the markets of the East coast of the United States, Canada, Europe and South America, mainly.
"As our country continues to expand its infrastructure, investments will continue to arrive, but especially if production exchanges between Mexico and its trading partners increase, the port of Veracruz needs to improve," said José Luis Fuente, president of The Transportation Commission of the Concamin.
In 2016, 7.1 million tons of agricultural bulk were handled in the maritime terminal of Veracruz, mainly corn, wheat, soybeans and rice; And 2.7 million tons of mineral bulk such as fertilizers, petroleum coke and steel for manufacture, among others.
In addition, it is the most important port for the handling of finished motor vehicles with 60 percent of the national total or 756 thousand units and the third most relevant in containers, transferring 931 thousand boxes, which involves the transportation of products such as screens and appliances.
Per federal and API officials, the first phase of the works may be ready by mid-2018.
The second stage, which will allow reaching a capacity of 110 million tons, will be completed by 2030 and will involve investments of 70 billion pesos or about 3.5 billion dollars, a billion dollars less than that of Long Beach (United States) required to double its load capacity by 2019.
Another factor to emphasize is the rail connection that will be available, said Guillermo Ruiz de Teresa, head of the CPMM, who added that there will be a 19.5-kilometer by-pass where the tracks of Kansas City Southern Mexico and Ferromex will converge.
The current connection crosses the whole city and only Ferromex-Ferrosur has the concession to enter, while KCSM has rights of way.
Also, included is the port boulevard that will connect to the new facilities with the Cardel-Jalapa highway, which allows the trucks to by-pass the city.
Víctor Martínez, captain in the current port, said that the expansion will improve connectivity and add port competitiveness to the country.
"Together, both ports will be able to offer more capacity and more options for cargo users, there will be larger berths for other types of ships, and the current one will present some competition," he said.
BID VIGILANCE IS REQUESTED
It will be important that the bids to build the port terminals of the site are very transparent.
Ruiz de Teresa has said that about 40 companies will participate in the development of the terminals to load and unload goods.
The six terminals to be built will be: containers, mineral bulk, agricultural bulk, multipurpose, hydrocarbons and armed vehicles.
For the construction of these, the government should promote competition for the bids and that these be monitored by authorities, said Martinez.
"Companies that are already present, who know the port, will be participating, but there must be more options to avoid affecting the consumer," he added.
Source: elfinanciero.com.mx