01/09/2009 15h00
Libra plans doubling terminals in SP and RJ
Valor Econômico 01/09/2009
The Libra group has projects to double the two container terminals of the company, in Rio de Janeiro and in Santos, with investments that may reach, in total, R$ 400 million (US$ 174 million). The group is also developing a project to set up a multi-purpose private terminal in the port of Imbituba (SC). At the same time Libra analyses new business opportunities. "All port terminals, whether they already exist or are future projects, interest us", said Marcelo Araujo, CEO of the Libra Holding, a newly-created structure to gather all companies of the group. In Rio, Libra plans to increase its operation, a matter under discussion with Companhia Docas (CDRJ) and with its rival company, Multiterminais, a container terminal concessionaire adjacent to the group in the port of Rio de Janeiro. The plan foresees increasing the capacity of Terminal 1-Rio, controlled by Libra, of 400 thousand TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) to more than 700 thousand TEUs a year, said Araújo. The investment in the duplication of the terminal in Rio should be between R$ 100 million and R$ 150 million (US$ 43.5 / 95.2 million) but the final value depends on the format of the project, including equipment, landfill, and the construction of berths. In Santos, main port of the country, the group also discusses an expansion program with Companhia Docas (Codesp). The purpose is to invest R$ 250 million (US$ 108.7 million) in three years to increase Libra's container handling capacity, in Santos, from 800 thousand TEUs to 1.5 million or 1.6 million TEUs. Today, Libra handles one million TEUs a year in both terminals, Rio and Santos. Araújo said that the group is interested in participating on the feasibility studies of the Barnabé-Bagres project, for the expansion of the port of Santos. "We entered into an agreement with CNEC, Camargo Correa's project company which will carry out the engineering and environmental technical studies of Barnabé-Bagres for Libra", said Araújo. In 2008, the group invested R$ 100 million (US$ 54.6 million) in one road-rail terminal, the Valongo Terminal (Teval), in Santos. Also last year, it put Libra Cubatão, a refrigeration terminal that received investments of R$ 40 million (US$ 21.8 million), in operation. In addition to the logistics area, the group has participation of 9.25% in Companhia Providência, a producer of raw-material for disposable diapers and hospital products.
