SAN ANTONIO, Chile, October 17 (IPS) – Maritime transport is essential for Chile, which has 34 free commerce agreements with nations and blocs of countries, one of many broadest commerce networks on the earth with entry to over 86% of the worldwide gross home product (GDP).
In 2024, this South American nation surpassed US$100 billion in exports for the primary time, largely of copper, forest merchandise, contemporary fruits, fish, and natural meals. In flip, it imported US$78.025 billion, largely diesel oil, clothes, equipment, and footwear.
Confronted with rising commerce, specialists predict monumental port demand by 2036 on this lengthy and slim South American nation squeezed between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean.
To keep away from a collapse in 10 years, the San Antonio Outer Port mission will triple the capability of Chile’s essential route for the exit and entry of merchandise.
San Antonio at the moment handles 29% of the tonnage of maritime international commerce, 34% of exports, and 71% of Chile’s imports by worth.
The excessive agricultural and mining manufacturing from Chile’s central space, which contributes 59% of the nation’s GDP and is residence to 63% of its 19.7 million inhabitants, passes via this port.
The outer port will enable for the motion of six million containers thanks to 2 new port terminals, 1,730 meters lengthy and 450 meters vast, with eight new berthing fronts for state-of-the-art container ships.
The overall estimated funding for the mission is US$4.45 billion, which might be financed by the federal government and by worldwide firms making use of for concessions.
The primary months of 2026 might be key for awarding the dredging works, the development of the breakwater, the protecting infrastructure for the brand new port, and for studying the authorities’ choice on the environmental impression of the San Antonio Outer Port works.
Measures might be taken to mitigate that impression, together with the safety of two wetlands situated on port land and help for the work of fishermen in close by coves. To decarbonize, the port mission can even use power produced from renewable sources.
San Antonio, 110 kilometers west of Santiago and south of the historic port of Valparaiso, which it has surpassed in relevance, is aiming for a revival by selling the most important port infrastructure mission in Chile’s historical past.
It at the moment gives 10,200 direct jobs to port employees with a median month-to-month revenue of US$1,110.
San Antonio goals to consolidate its ninth place among the many largest ports in Latin America and broaden its function within the motion of cargo to and from Asia and the Americas.
Its managers additionally search to indicate that infrastructure improvement will be harmonized with the safety and enchancment of environmental circumstances via a mission that could be a mannequin of sustainability.
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