Investment in the port allows operating with rain
Valor Econômico
Rumo Logistics begins building this year coverage at its terminals in the port of Santos, the investment will allow the company to make the shipment of sugar even on rainy days. The work should be complete by the end of 2012, with investments of about R$ 60 million (US$ 35.3 million), said to Valor Júlio Fontana Neto, CEO of Rumo.
The metal roof, with capacity for larger vessels, such as Panamax and Cape Size ships, will cover the mooring berth of the South Terminal. Besides facilitating the continued shipment of sugar, this structure will be coated with a membrane which will capture water for reusing.
These investments reduce the logistical bottlenecks, since the rain could stop the flow of sugar until 90 days per year. These investments will be allocated for implementation of a cover of retractable special fabric (ecoloading technology) that will be put in action on rainy days, allowing the shipment of bulk sugar in the North terminal of Cosan in Santos.
Built in 2008, Fontana believes the company will be prepared for a possible IPO after 2012. The company is completing an investment of R$ 1.3 billion (US$ 764.7 million), which includes acquisitions of rolling stock, with 729 wagons and 50 locomotives (of which 30 have already been delivered), investments railroad network, with signed contract with ALL Logistics, besides terminals in Santos and interior of São Paulo. BNDES is financing nearly R$ 980 million (US$ 576.5 million).
Since last year, Rumo has two important partners - the funds Texas Pacific Group (TPG) and Gávea, which, together, made investments of R$ 400 million (US$ 235.3 million), acquiring 25% of the company. During the sugarcane offseason, which runs from January to April, Rumo is also flowing grains, especially soybeans and meal. The company is also analyzing the possibility of acting on new railroad tracks.