en.Wedoany.com Reported - Empresa Portuaria San Antonio (EPSA) has launched a request for expressions of interest to hire project management consulting and technical engineering supervision services for the Puerto Exterior outer port project. The $4.45 billion investment is accelerating after obtaining environmental approval.
Last week, the environmental assessment commission of the Valparaíso Region approved the project, which aims to triple the current cargo transshipment capacity of the port. The expression of interest process is open until June 15, seeking companies with proven experience in integrated management of highly complex infrastructure projects. Consulting services must cover areas such as planning, technical supervision, engineering coordination, schedule and cost control, quality, occupational health and safety, environment, risk management, change management, document management, and compliance.
Meanwhile, the Port of San Antonio is advancing a $1.95 billion tender for the construction of breakwaters, excavation of the harbor basin and approach channel dredging, yards, railway access including two stations, site facilities, and environmental compensation and mitigation measures. According to the annual report released in May, the timeline calls for receiving and opening technical bids on July 10, followed by the opening of financial bids, award, and contract signing. Companies prequalified through the international tender include: Spanish consortium Dragados-Sacyr, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), Van Oord, Jan de Nul, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), Hyundai Engineering & Construction, and the consortium Acciona-Deme. The winning contractor must establish a special purpose company in Chile, comply with listed company regulatory rules, and have its registered address in San Antonio.
Regarding project overview, the outer port project aims to expand and modernize the country's main port system by constructing approximately 4 kilometers of breakwaters, dredging works, and plazas. This will build two terminals, each 1,730 meters long, developed in four phases. This $4.45 billion public-private partnership investment will triple the current cargo transshipment capacity and accommodate up to eight post-Panamax vessels up to 400 meters long, with an annual throughput capacity of 6 million TEUs. As of the end of the first quarter of 2026, TEU throughput increased by 2.3% year-on-year to 682,939 boxes. From January to April, total cargo throughput reached 7,747,533 tons, up 1% year-on-year. In April, TEU transshipment volume grew by 10% compared to the same period in 2025, the largest monthly increase so far this year, higher than the 5% increase in February.
According to EPSA, the outer port construction will require an average of 1,500 workers. Once fully operational, the port will create over 2,000 jobs for port workers, in addition to opportunities in logistics, transportation, maintenance, local trade, and support services.
EPSA estimates that by 2055, the project will generate over $1 billion in direct gross value added annually for the San Antonio Province, quadrupling the current port's direct economic activity. At the same time, production linkages with local suppliers will also strengthen, with procurement increasing from $51 million to approximately $861 million.
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