Chile recommends environmental ok for US$500mn port terminal

Chile's environmental evaluation service SEA recommended approving the environmental impact study (EIS) of the US$500mn Cerros de Valparaíso terminal which has been under revision for four years.

According to SEA, the project would be compatible with environmental regulations and proposes adequate mitigation and compensation measures.

Now the EIS will be reviewed by a regional environmental commission in Valparaíso region which will give its final verdict on September 5, according to SEA.

If approved, works on Terminal 2 could start – unless legal action against the approval is presented. Valparaíso's mayor Jorge Sharp opposes the project but said in July he would respect the regional committee's decision and wouldn't seek legal action.

In statements to daily El Mercurio de Valparaíso, Raúl Celis, an executive at the city's state port operator EPV said that this decision "implies a serious study on the project's appropriateness." He added that the new terminal is vital not only for the city, but the whole country.

"It will allow improving the cargo capacity of the ports which according to demand increase estimates will be overwhelmed around 2023," he said.

According to the SEA evaluation report, works, carried out by concessionaire TCVAL, would start in December if the project is approved and finish by July 2022.

Works entail the construction of a 725m dock and a other works, including dredging. The terminal could service post Panamax vessels and have a maximum capacity of over 1mn TEUs per year.