Baja California Port Project Delayed
The turmoil in the world’s economic markets is prompting the Mexican government to extend the bidding deadline for its new port in Baja California.
Luis Tellez, the country’s transportation minister, said companies bidding on the $5 billion port project are busy financing their working capital and renewing their credit lines and need more time.
With that in mind, the government is extending the date that companies have to seek papers to bid on the various sections of the port project. Originally, the deadline was Oct. 2, but now it is Jan. 26. Papers and presentations must be done by Nov. 24. A final decision on who wins the bids won’t be announced until Dec. 18, 2009, instead of Aug. 31, 2009.
Punta Colonet, about 150 miles south of Tijuana, is one of the most ambitious port projects Mexico has ever undertaken. It would be a direct competitor with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, with goods being unloaded in Baja California and then trucked or transported by train to the United States.
The Mexican government was hoping the first phase of the port would be completed by 2012, when it would initially handle 1 million 20-foot containers a year and 6 million containers by 2025.
Last year, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach saw 15.7 million 20-foot cargo containers clear their docks. —Deborah Belgum
