The Northern Chilean port complex of Mejillones and Angamos is receiving investment of $115 million from Ultramar, the Belfí construction company and Inversiones Portuarías Norte Grande. This should allow the combined 5.3mt (million tonnes) of traffic registered in 2009 to rise to 10mt by 2012.
At present, 60% of traffic at Angamos is in the form of mineral exports and this is expected to grow. Copper movements last year at the port were worth an estimated $9 billion.
A total of $80 million will be spent on building the planned Terminal Graneles del Norte, which will handle coal for the Angamos power station. Present capacity is in the region of 4mt, although new area will open in the first quarter of 2011.
Meanwhile, at Mejillones, $30 million will be spent this year raising capacity to handle sulphuric acid used in mining to 200,000 tonnes.
Barry Cross