San Antonio Port Company (EPSA) increased the number of prequalified companies in the international tender for the Puerto Exterior works to five, following the incorporation of the Acciona-Deme consortium (Spain-Belgium) and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. (Korea).
The state-owned company reported that the process for this project—which in early September had already added the companies Van Oord (Netherlands), Jan de Nul (Belgium), and China Harbour Engineering Company CHEC (China)—continues to advance with the analysis and evaluation of the background of other firms and consortia that are participating in the development initiated in January of this year.
The tender includes the award of a contract for the construction of the approximately 4-kilometer-long breakwater, dredging to create the basin, backup areas and access roads, and environmental compensation and mitigation measures.
With this, these five international firms, which joined the Expression of Interest process executed in 2024 by the port company, are now part of the Puerto Exterior Prequalified Companies Registry, which they accessed after meeting strict technical and administrative requirements established by the state-owned company, in addition to demonstrating a broad track record in the construction of large-scale maritime infrastructure worldwide.
The Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos Muñoz, highlighted the good news, stating that “the Puerto Exterior of San Antonio is a key project for Chile. Its development is a priority for our Government and for the country due to its broad and positive economic impact. This port constitutes a key piece as it will provide port capacity that all our studies indicate will be required in the coming decades. Now, it is important to emphasize that it is a large-scale and complex public work. There is no port project of greater magnitude on the continent. For the same reason, we are very pleased to know that there are now five prequalified companies in the international tender for its works. This speaks to the interest it generates, as well as the seriousness that we offer as a country.”
The chairman of the board of San Antonio Port Company, Eduardo Abedrapo Bustos, stressed that “Puerto Exterior is a State initiative that, with the development of the works tender, has taken decisive steps so that by the year 2036 the country will have the port capacity required in the coming decades. The materialization of this great project will consolidate the relevant position of Puerto San Antonio in the international maritime port context and as part of the large-scale port network of Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Likewise, Abedrapo emphasized that “Puerto Exterior will ensure the sustainability and modernization of the country’s public port infrastructure. The two new terminals will be able to serve large vessels with high levels of efficiency and modern equipment, generating direct benefits for Chilean foreign trade: for consumers, lower-cost imported goods, and for exporters, a logistics chain competitive with other global markets.”
Moreover, the development of the works and the operation of the project will be key to the economy and development of the province of San Antonio, as more than 4 thousand direct jobs will be opened.”
For his part, the general manager of the state company, Ramón Castañeda Ponce, emphasized that “by joining the Pre-Qualified Companies Registry of Puerto Exterior, these companies of renowned international prestige will be able to continue advancing to present competitive bids, in line with the high demands of the most relevant port project in the history of Chile.”
Castañeda added that “the closure of the Pre-Qualified Companies Registry is scheduled for November of this year, so new companies or consortia could join in the coming weeks. With this, we will fulfill the schedule of this bidding process, which includes the receipt of bids in January 2026 and the awarding of the contract in March of the same year.”
María Teresa Saldías, executive director of Imagen de Chile, highlighted that “the interest of leading global companies in participating in the construction of the Puerto Exterior of San Antonio is a clear sign of the confidence that Chile inspires as a serious, competitive country open to the world. This strategic project will not only strengthen our international maritime connectivity and trade but also projects Chile as a reliable partner in the development of large-scale infrastructure, with a responsible commitment to people and the environment.”
Puerto Exterior Project
Puerto Exterior includes the construction of a sheltering breakwater or breakwater wall of almost 4 kilometers in length, which will have two semi-automated terminals of 1,730 meters each with the capacity to simultaneously receive up to eight ships 400 meters long.
At full operation of the project’s four stages, the new maritime facility will have the capacity to transfer 6 million TEUs per year, equivalent to approximately 60 million tons of cargo. Currently, the Port of San Antonio can handle up to 2.5 million TEUs per year.
The initiative includes a comprehensive investment plan estimated at USD 4,450 million; of which USD 1,950 million will be contributed by the Empresa Portuaria San Antonio for the construction of the sheltering works, the generation of the dock, backup areas and access roads, in addition to environmental mitigation and compensation measures. The remaining USD 2,500 million will be contributed by the private sector, through port concessions, for the construction, enabling, and operation of the sites.
Puerto Exterior will begin operating with its first stage, with an 865-meter pier, around the year 2036, adding an available capacity of 1.5 million TEUs per year.
