APM Terminals Callao has announced the start of works on stage 3A of the Multipurpose North Terminal Modernization Project in the Peruvian port.
Maersk-owned port and terminal operator APM Terminals said the US$95 million, 100% private investment, exceeds contractual commitments in the addendum by almost 40%.
To mark this critical moment, APM Terminals Callao held a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony in the presence of important authorities such as Dina Boluarte, President of the Republic of Peru, Raúl Pérez Reyes, Minister of Transport and Communications, Juan Carlos Mathews, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Walter Tapia, President of the National Port Authority, as well as industry associations, embassies and clients.
This stage of the project is expected to be completed in the next year and includes the construction of a battery of 12 vertical silos for clean grains, which is anticipated to increase capacity from 25,000 to 85,000 tons.
APM Terminals will also proceed with the acquisition and installation of two continuous free-flow solid grain unloaders, which will improve unloading productivity. APM Terminals Callao handles 73% of the wheat, 54% of the corn and 100% of the barley arriving in Peru.
Additionally, there are plans for the construction of 21,300 m² of paved areas, while significant improvements at the access gate for general cargo will also be carried out.
Once the terminal reaches an annual 1.1 million TEUs, stage 3B will begin with an investment of US$328 million. APM Terminals Callao will, however, seek to invest approximately US$500 million, thus exceeding its contractual obligation in the addendum by 50%.
Stage 3B is expected to benefit both general and containerised cargo customers, through the addition of a new 440 m fully equipped container berth and dredging works that will facilitate container vessels up to 400 meters long with a draft of 16 meters.
Moreover, the acquisition of four ship-to-shore super post panamax gantry cranes, 12 electric rubber tyred gantry cranes (eRTGs) and 33 terminal trucks will increase capacity at the port to handle more than 2.8 million TEUs, more than doubling existing capacity.
Similarly, existing piers one and two will be demolished and rebuilt using more modern designs, with a berthing capacity of 220 metres, while 70,000 m² of paved yard will be constructed for container and general cargo.
“We are happy and proud to start the next stages of the modernisation project, a total commitment of US$1.2 billion in the most important public port in the country,” highlighted Lars Vang Christensen, CEO of APM Terminals Callao.
“Being recognised as part of Peru’s critical infrastructure, we currently serve more than 70% of Peru’s general cargo and 40% of its containerised cargo. During our time in Callao, our focus has been to implement solutions to improve and align the infrastructure to the needs of the market and therefore also to create value for users of the port,” he added.
