Barcelona, due to its geographical position, its production network and extensive market continues to receive investment at a good pace. And the Port of Barcelona is the best example, with very significant investments to improve its facilities, docks and quays.
Specifically, between projects that are already underway and others that are about to begin, the overall volume of planned investment is about 700 million euros. Of this total, 60% corresponds to investments from the private sector, and the rest comes from the public administration, in a model of public-private partnership to keep the infrastructure in a leadership position in the Mediterranean and in Europe.
Diversification is one of the keys to the success of the Port of Barcelona in terms of investments received. In recent years, for example, the offices of Desigual have been built, the maritime station of Grimaldi, the energy platform of Meroil-Lukoil, and the BEST container terminal.
The new private projects being developed or soon to be launched are: the second phase of the BEST container terminal owned by the Asian firm Hutchison Port Holding; the new potash and salt cargo terminal owned by Iberpotash which will be made by the multinational ICL; the construction of the new cruise terminal by the American firm Carnival, which will invest about 25 million euros; the expansion of Marina Barcelona 92 (one of the most important mega-yacht maintenance and remodelling facilities in the world); the construction of Marina Vela next to hotel W, in which about 30 million euros will be invested; and the remodelling of Marina Port Vell.
Iberpotash Terminal
The Israeli multinational ICL, parent company of Iberpotash, plans to invest over 100 million euros in a new terminal at the Port of Barcelona. This new infrastructure will enable large-tonnage ships to be loaded, with a firm commitment to the quality of rail logistics and shipping of potash and salt by Iberpotash, which involves the development of the so-called “Phoenix Plan” in the Catalan region of Bages.
The new terminal will be located in the vicinity of Álvarez de la Campa Dock, with a surface area of 7 hectares and 14 metres deep which will allow ships up to 60,000 tonnes to be loaded. In addition to the 100 million euro investment by the ICL group in the new terminal, the Port of Barcelona will invest approximately 10 million euros in reforming the sites for this infrastructure. These actions will enable Iberpotash to have 600 metres of berthing at the Port of Barcelona, a key infrastructure for channelling their exports.
ICL is one of the world leaders in fertilizers and specialty chemicals and the sixth largest producer of potash. Iberpotash is the only potash extraction company in Spain and it exports 75% of its production, mainly to countries in the European Union, Asia, and South America.
BEST Terminal
The Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) Group is developing the second phase of expansion of the BEST terminal, in which it will invest 150 million euros, while the Port of Barcelona will invest 1.8 million euros.
BEST is the first semi-automated terminal of the HPH Group which was opened in 2012, with an investment of 300 million euros. It is equipped with the latest technology in container terminals. The terminal has one of the most modern entry and exit door systems in Europe, and one of the largest railway facilities inside a maritime terminal in the Mediterranean, with 8 dual-width tracks (Iberian and European), daily connecting BEST to different destinations in Spain and Southern Europe.
Once the expansion works are completed in the first quarter of 2015, BEST will have 1,500 metres of waterfront (1000 metres currently) available, in a single alignment, which will be able to operate up to five container vessels simultaneously.
HPH, a subsidiary of the multinational Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL), is the investor, builder and operator of some of the most important ports in the world. The network of port operations owned by HPH is composed of 52 ports in 26 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, America and Oceania.
Source and photo: BCL