Change of ownership renews expectations for port project in northern Chile

The North American indigenous nation Chiricahua Apache is awaiting the environmental resolution to begin construction of the Copiaport-E port in the Atacama Region, northern Chile, with an investment of US$450 million and which includes a bulk terminal and another multipurpose terminal. So far, US$13 million has been allocated to new environmental studies. The main objective of the project is to offer a port infrastructure capable of receiving large vessels without the need for dredging, indicates La Tercera. Nicholas Winters, president of Copiaport-E, highlights the environmental advantages of the initiative by pointing out that no other port in Chile offers the necessary depths for Capesize or Chinamax type vessels without dredging. In addition, the project avoids the need to build breakwaters or displace local communities, and contemplates the use of electric trucks and solar plants to reduce CO2 emissions. Focused on large ships Copiaport-E is designed to receive large vessels ...