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Group Monitors Infrastructure Improvement Works at the Areia Branca Salt Terminal – Island Port, Which Handles Almost Two Million Tons of Sea Salt Per Year
Bureau Veritas, a global leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC), has been involved in modernizing the Areia Branca Salt Terminal (RN) to ensure quality and meet the infrastructure schedule for the operation with the Intersal Consortium, winner of the auction held by the Federal Government last year.
The Group is responsible for monitoring activities at the offshore facility, which accounts for about 35% of sea salt production in Brazil. The infrastructure improvement works are being processed by the Port Authority of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Codern, which invested R$ 65 million. Led by Intermarítima with participation from Navenor, the Consortium is set to take over operations in July this year.
“Bureau Veritas has been operating in the maritime sector for almost 200 years, and this expertise is vital to ensure safety and quality in offshore operations. With the modernization of the salt terminal, we contribute to the local and national economy by increasing production capacity and visibility in the global market”, says Rafael Perez, Director of Construction and Infrastructure at the company.
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“Rio Grande do Norte is responsible for almost all of Brazil’s salt production, and now we have the experience and proven international technical expertise of Bureau Veritas to start operations by July this year and immediately contribute to the sector by increasing bulk salt shipments through the Areia Branca Salt Terminal,” explains Ricardo Oliva, representative of the Intersal Consortium.
Bureau Veritas is actively involved in monitoring the modernization works of Tersab, carried out by Codern, as well as the recovery of metal structures at the barge quay, the defense system (Dolfins), the conveyor bridge, the transfer tower, and the installations of new desalination plants. The workshops, thermoelectric units, accommodation, and administrative building are also being renovated to ensure even more comfort and safety for employees. Bureau Veritas is overseeing the revitalization of the Cathodic Protection System to enhance control of surface corrosion. The works began in the second half of last year, with completion expected in September this year.
Other Infrastructure Works
“In addition to the challenges of offshore works, we had to plan the execution of infrastructure interventions without disrupting the salt shipment flow. We have been successful: we will ship over 600 thousand tons by the end of April 2022, serving all producers,” comments the President Director of CODERN Brigadier Carlos Eduardo da Costa Almeida.
The ongoing works are part of the contractual obligations for leasing. In addition to the investments by the Port Authority, the Intersal Consortium is expected to inject around R$ 165 million in capital over the next 25 years to expand the storage and shipment potential of the state’s salt. The Areia Branca Salt Terminal, inaugurated in March 1974, is located about 14 km from the coast of Areia Branca and 330 km from Natal. The salt from Tersab is consumed throughout Brazil by companies in the chlorine and soda, paper and pulp industries, as well as for animal feed, human consumption, and foreign export.
About Bureau Veritas Group
With revenue of 4.9 billion euros, Bureau Veritas is a global leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC). Founded in 1828, the Group operates in 140 countries and serves over 400 thousand clients. It employs 80,000 staff across 1,600 offices and laboratories globally, 5,000 of whom are in Brazil.
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