Odebrecht Engineering and Construction Wins Contract to Build Port in Espírito Santo

2,500 Jobs Will Be Created at the Peak of Construction. Odebrecht Has Just Signed the Memorandum for the Construction of the São Mateus Port Center

Odebrecht Engineering and Construction and Petrocity Portos S.A have signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of engineering studies for the construction of the São Mateus Port Center (CPSM), a maritime terminal located in the municipality of São Mateus, in northern Espírito Santo. With an investment of R$ 2.1 billion, the new Multimodal port is expected to handle various types of cargo and is already considered a regional integration tool that will connect the north and northwest of the state of Espírito Santo, as well as southern Bahia and eastern and northern Minas Gerais. The project for the port complex will involve private funding.

With construction expected to start in the first quarter of 2019 and be completed in the second half of 2021, the expectation is that the C.P.S.M. will generate 2,500 jobs at the peak of construction. During operations, the port terminal is expected to employ about 2,000 people.

On an area of 1.5 million square meters, the new port is expected to feature four types of operations. A terminal to coordinate oil and gas activities; one dedicated to ornamental rocks; a third to manage container handling; and the fourth focused on handling wood and cellulose logs.

The port will be located in an area served by Sudene, despite being geographically situated in the Southeast region, which will ensure some tax benefits for the project. The technical and economic feasibility study indicates a pent-up demand for cargo in the region, such as ornamental rocks, cellulose, and woods from southern Bahia, coffee, liquid bulk, ship repair, automobiles, agriculture, and especially containerized cargo from southern Bahia, northern and northwestern Espírito Santo, and Minas Gerais. “Having the international expertise of Odebrecht Engineering and Construction will be essential to ensure the execution of this complex, which will boost the economy of cities in the interior of these three states, in addition to guaranteeing economic integration among them,” says José Roberto da Silva, director of Petrocity Portos S.A.

The architectural design of the C.P.S.M. will have a new concept, utilizing concrete caisson methodology and seeking to ensure the application of sustainable practices during installation and operation phases. “Our experience and technical capacity will ensure the installation of one of the most beautiful and efficient ports in Brazil,” emphasizes Giorgio Bullaty, Contracts Manager at Odebrecht responsible for the studies of the project and one of those responsible for building a container terminal at the port of Doraleh (photo), in Djibouti, a country located in Northeast Africa.

The document signed between the companies ensures that, in exchange for the development of engineering studies, the construction company will have exclusivity in executing the works of the project.

Communities

Petrocity Portos S.A has conducted socioeconomic studies executed by a company incubated at the Federal University of Espírito Santo to measure the project’s impact in the region and has maintained a permanent relationship with the main communities, in addition to participating in regular meetings.

The project is expected to significantly increase the collection of ISS in the municipality. It is estimated that R$ 220 million will be generated in the third year of port operations. The São Mateus Port Center is expected to prioritize the hiring of local labor and will also implement mariculture projects (cultivation of marine organisms in their natural habitat), as well as incentive programs to improve the quality of life for these communities. Source Odebrecht