The $3 million project to redesign the Salvadoran Port is expected to begin in February.
Guillermo López Suarez, head of CEPA, the Port Authority, explained that the project will be carried out in three phases, ending around the end of 2010.
"The official confirmed that works will be conducted under a scheduled, staged program, to avoid interfering with the arrival of those ships who are already expected to dock at the port", reported Elsalvador.com.
The union strike that began on December 23 has left the port short on personnel, causing a decrease in activity.
Guillermo López Suárez, president of CEPA, the port Authority, explained the entity has lost around $600.000 because of the strike.
He warned, in an article in Elsalvador.com: "the highest cost is the message we are sending abroad, that the Port of Acajutla is returning to the same conditions of the year 2000".
They criticize the government's intention of operating the port with minimal equipment and under administration of CEPA, the state port authority.
Shipping companies remark that in order to make them leave Acajutla Port, the new port at La Unión must offer better fees and more efficient loading and unloading of containers.
Ricardo Cruz, operations manager at NYK shipping, affirmed that "if a shipping company is going to move to La Unión, it must know what this port offers. As long as we don't know what are the benefits of operating from La Unión, we are not going to consider moving, since it gives us the same we already have at Acajutla".
CEPA invited bids for installing 500 meters of wire netting fence at Acajutla Port.
The project includes the construction of a concrete frame in the lower section of the fence.
"CEPA (port authority), has also invited bids for other works at Acajutla: Removal, supply and installation of approximately 3,200 meters of seals in expansion joints, and seals in crevices and cracks in hydraulic concrete pavement ...
Logistics group Ransa expressed its interest in the concession of the country's port system.
RANSA is a group composed of Peruvian, Chilean and Salvadoran investors. Its president, Raúl Álvarez Belismelis, stated that the country is losing development opportunities due to lack of definition on how to operate Port La Unión.
"The port could be a very attractive project, an ambitious, regional endeavor.
Facing closure of the Port of Acajutla for repairs, the Salvadoran government decided to start operations in La Unión Port.
President Mauricio Funes announced: "While the repair and restructuring works continue in the Port of Acajutla, it must be closed, and the cargo will be transferred to La Unión".
An article in Elsalvador.com, transcribes comments by Funes: "That is a fact...
Some of the proposals reviewed include making CEPA the administrator and operator of the port of La Unión.
Guillermo López Suárez, president of the port commission known as CEPA, is working on a new proposal. This proposal includes an updated diagnostic of the situation.
Translated from the La Prensa Gráfica website: "While [CEPA] continues with the study, sources close to the analysis process affirmed that ...
Among the main investments for this year is the purchase of two container cranes.
Francisco Portillo, Manager of Port Acajutla, reports that in 2010 the Executive Board of Autonomous Ports (CEPA acronym in Spanish) is also planning an investment of $9.6 million in infrastructure and equipment.
German Rivas writes in Laprensagrafica.com about the plans for the remainder of this year: “There is also a major project for the refurbishing of the piers A and C’s concrete structures, which require an investment of $3 million.
The new CEPA president will analyze proposed legislation for port concessions, which is now in the Legislature.
José Guillermo López Suárez, president of the Autonomous Port Executive Committee (CEPA) said that the best proposal in terms of state participation in the mixed society with a first class operator will be announced after the analysis.
Laprensagrafica.com reported statements by the new president: "I still do not have a convincing response on percentages because I want to understand the position of whatever is trying to be achieved with the port (in La Unión). In order to achieve the nation’s objective, we must first have the will of the mayors and members of the legislature to find a balance that allows us a way out of this entrapment."
CEPA finances will only allow them to invest $21.8 million that is considered critical to maintaining operations in 2009.
The Executive Autonomous Port Commission (CEPA) of El Salvador has committed its finances to the payment of the loan from the Japanese JBIC Bank for the construction of La Unión Port, leaving few resources for other investments. This year, the entity will only make certain investments considered "critical" so that the normal operation of Acajutla Port and the International Airport of El Salvador will not be affected.
With the participation of Peruvian specialist, Lincoln Flor Rojas, the National Commission for Development held a forum to discuss port concessions.
Lincoln Flor Rojas, manager of the Oversight Agency for Investment in Transport Infrastructure and Public Use in Peru informed Laprensagrafica.com: "The state must find an international operator that offers quality and effectiveness in the management of the service, instead of focusing on the amount of investment that it can bring immediately. What I find dangerous are the renegotiations that are almost immediate in committed reinvestment. It should be regulated more by the level of quality than the amount invested."
Through the portal of eSalPort, importers will have access to all the information related to the procedures and logistics of their cargo shipments.
Laprensagrafica.com reports: "The importing sector can count on a new tool that will reduce the entry times for goods to the country that enter through the customs located at the port of Acajutla and the International Airport of El Salvador (AIES)."
Mauricio Tobar, spokesperson for the port authority (CEPA), reported that the approval of the law for the privatization of the ports will be postponed until the second quarter.
According to Business News Americas "we are already immersed in the pre-electoral period, mayoral and Congressional elections will be held on January 18. It will be very difficult at this time (for Congress) to deal with this matter.
The Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development asked the Government and Legislative Assembly to approved the concession for the port system.
The entity supported, via a memorandum on the issue, the proposal to give 90% of the administration of the country's two main ports to private hands, while the State mains 10%. "This is precisely what the Presidential Commission for the Analysis of the Concession of Port Acajutla and Port La Union has concluded," the Foundation reiterated.