Puerto Mejillones reports excellent business in 2013

In terms of cargo movements in 2013, Puerto Mejillones recorded movements of over 4.5mt (million tonnes) in liquid and solid bulk.

Liquid cargo (sulphuric acid) report an increase of 4% over 2012. In July last year, cargo movements of liquid and solid bulk reached 500,000 tonnes, 6% higher than the record achieved in August 2012.

COMMUNITY

During 2013, Puerto Mejillones kept its commitment with the community, being an active and responsible neighbour in environmental, social, cultural and sports matters, implementing programmes and initiatives to develop the area and its citizens.

In March 2013, and after two years of close work together with the Municipality of Mejillones, the port implement the first Puerto Mejillones Social Business Responsibility Program. A ballet school was opened in the area, with 50 students chosen to be part of the academy. The school’s students performed several times at the Gamelín Guerra cultural centre, displaying their talent and all they had learned. The end of the season was marked with a successful performance of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet. In 2014, students will continue their programme, giving continuity to teenagers in the community.

Puerto Mejillones also participated in the 4th Mejillones Expo, where more than 1,500 neighbours were able to gain insight into the work performed at the port.

Another activity in 2013 was the 6th Puerto Mejillones Running, which brought together over 500 athletes, from the area and from surrounding cities, who filled the streets of Mejillones in an atmosphere of friendship and healthy competition.

Puerto Mejillones also participated during the 3rd 2013 Mejillones Theater Festival, presenting the play ‘Amores de Cantina’ (Canteen Loves), a tragi-comedy enjoyed by more than 600 district people.

Also, during 2013 port terminal implemented a programme called ‘Meet Puerto Mejillones’. In this, the terminal was opened to families of workers, and to the community in general, to enable them to witness the facilities and operational processes at the port.

All these initiatives are part of the CSR programme that aims to make the port a strong part of the community, and to contribute to Mejillones’ citizens and the development of the district.

ENVIRONMENT

In terms of environmental stewardship, the port retained its passion for respecting and caring for the environment by ensuring clean and sustainable operations. For this reason, in the third edition of the environmental performance study ‘How green are companies in Chile?’, carried out by the Universidad Catolica Measurement Center, MideUC, Puerto Mejillones was recognized as the fourth best evaluated company in environmental matters and the only recognized port of the 2nd Region.

Along with improvements in performance year-on-year in the port’s facilities and in the quality of the air and marine environment, the port has also achieved a series of important milestones within its sustainability policy.

In 2013, the port achieved second place in the Carbon Footprint Measurement for 2012. This analysis was carried out by Pricewaterhouse Coopers Chile and the ABS audit company. At the same time, in August 2013, the port successfully finished recertification process in ISO 9.001; ISO 14.001; and OSHAS 18.001 standards.

All these efforts have involved different national and international recognition. Besides the outstanding place in the recent MideUC ranking, in 2012 the port was accepted into the international programme World Ports Climate Initiative, a project that reunites 63 world class ports in sustainability matters.

One of the last port terminal milestones, was the renewal of its website. With modern and friendly navigation, this website is of great use to customers, the Mejillones community and other users that requires information about work at the port terminal.