Colombian port infrastructure: Could coal producers combine their resources?

摘要

Colombian coal producers will invest more than US$15 billion dollars during the next nine years in coal mine development and infrastructure, according to the nation's Minister of Mines and Energy, Carlos Rodado. It is all part of an ambitious goal to raise Colombia's coal exports from the present level of 80 million tonnes/year to 160 million tonnes/year by 2020. Port construction costs will comprise a major part of the capital outlay for infrastructure. Rodado estimates that Colombia will need 150 million tonnes/year of new port throughput capacity by 2020 for the coal industry to successfully meet its export target. Just about every coal producer has a plan to build a new port or expand an existing one. However, the costs present a daunting challenge for many exporters. Could Colombian coal producers pool their financial resources and construct a giant "super port" capable of handling a large portion of the nation's coal exports?