Colombia's Aguadulce industrial port to start ops this year

Concessionaire Sociedad Puerto Industrial Aguadulce plans to begin operations at Colombia's new Aguadulce industrial port in Buenaventura before the end of 2016.

"A first part of the terminal is being completed for the start of operations, while additional areas are being completed. That is to say, from a civil works perspective we can begin operating immediately and the first phase will be complete during the first quarter of 2017," the concession company's general manager, Miguel Abisambra, was reported as saying by local daily Portafolio.

With a berthing area 600m and 14.5m deep, the new port will be available for multipurpose activity and can handle containers, general cargo and bulk goods.

With total investments of close to US$500mn, the port has now advanced 90% and has been authorized to begin operations by Colombia's customs and tax agency Dian starting October 10.

Abisambra added that investments in public areas reached US$322mn, adding to investments in private areas of the port.

"The start of operation of this port generates more competition for foreign trade activity in the country," said national infrastructure agency (ANI) president, Luis Fernando Andrade.

The multipurpose port will have two operators under the same concession: Sociedad Puerto Industrial Aguadulce will be in charge of cargo transported in containers and Boscoal will be responsible for general cargo and bulk goods.

During works, the project generated 7,500 jobs around the port area.

The Aguadulce port was designed as an alternative to reduce congestion at Buenaventura port's main facilities.