© Reuters. Ship with soybeans in Paranaguá 02/24/2023 REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker
By Ana Mano and Nayara Figueiredo
SÃO PAULO (Reuters) – The PAR50 terminal at the port of Paranaguá, intended for the handling and storage of liquid bulk, was purchased by the FTS Group in an auction by B3 (BVMF:) this Friday, for the amount of 1 million reais, informed the administrator Portos do Paraná.
The new lessee takes over the area with the obligation to invest a minimum amount of BRL 338.2 million in works to expand operational capacity, including the construction of an extension to the liquid pier and two new berths for the segment.
The auction had only one proposal, but that was already well above the initial grant value of 1 real, enabling the regularization of one more port area and providing more investment opportunities in the ports of the State.
Initially, there was an expectation of bidding for two areas in this Friday’s B3 auction. In addition to PAR50, the auction also provided for the concession of PAR09, for solid bulk.
The CEO of Portos do Paraná, Luiz Fernando Garcia, told Reuters by telephone that at least two groups with foreign investors were interested in PAR09.
After visiting the port and holding conversations with its executives, these groups decided not to participate in that auction, as they did not have enough time to resolve internal governance issues, according to Garcia.
Specifically, approval was needed from the boards of these companies, some located abroad, to participate in the event, he said.
According to the executive, the interested parties, whom he was unable to name, are awaiting the possible republication of the public notice. There was no questioning of modeling by investors, which sometimes happens in this type of process, Garcia said.
Garcia also commented that the port authority intends to republish the announcement shortly. The plan is to try to hold the PAR09 auction in the first semester.
The planned investments in the two terminals add up to 1.2 billion reais, with 910.6 million reais for PAR09 in addition to the 338.2 million for PAR50. With this, the ports of Paraná should receive more than 3.2 billion reais in capex, with three auctions already completed and four in progress.
The PAR50 auctioned area has approximately 85 thousand square meters and currently has 18 vertical tanks already installed and a total capacity of approximately 70,181 cubic meters. The new lease contract is valid for 25 years.