A pivotal gateway in Colombia’s Caribbean

December 2, 2024

Andrés Osorio, president of Puerto de Barranquilla, talks to The Energy Year about the key position the company holds in Colombia, the energy opportunities the port could consider for further expansion and how the port has embraced new technology. Puerto de Barranquilla is an integrated port.

What key position does Puerto de Barranquilla hold in Colombia?
Puerto de Barranquilla holds a pivotal position in Colombia’s maritime industry. 30 years ago, it passed from being a state-owned port to a private port, and a new chapter began.
In July 2021, Square Capital, an international investment fund, acquired a majority stake of 77% in the port, signalling a new era of strategic management and investment. This acquisition underscores the port’s growing importance as a key gateway for international trade, facilitating efficient logistics and contributes significantly to Colombia’s economy.
Today, the port operates as a multipurpose terminal supporting several industries of Colombia’s economy, ranging from energy to food. A significant part of our operations involves handling metallurgical coke, which is crucial for global steel production. Additionally, we manage general cargo, including materials for steel production and construction, such as cement.
Our terminal is one of the largest ones in Colombia and by far the largest terminal on the Magdalena River. In addition, it has a strategic location, as it is situated next to the ocean and the river, which gives it intermodal connectivity. The river is a strategic channel of transportation inland.
From our side and from the governmental side, we are hoping to develop the intermodal nature of the port and transform the Magdalena River into a vital navigational route. This initiative represents a significant opportunity for bolstering transport and logistics infrastructure from the coast deep into Colombia. However, achieving this vision requires substantial ongoing development and investment efforts.

 

What possible energy opportunities could the port consider for further expansion?
At present, the port has a small line of business working with liquids, mostly chemicals. However, we could explore further expanding the storage of liquids in the port given our robust storage capacity. We can store fuels and other types of liquids. We would first have to see what returns on investment we could see from venturing into this market.
The potential offshore gas provinces in the Caribbean are key for us. This gas will generate plenty of offshore activity which, due to our position and size, may force us to establish an inshore base for offshore activities. This is also a business area the port could eventually develop given the need and opportunity the market presents.

How has the port embraced new technology and undergone modernisation?
In recent years the port has made proactive moves to adopt novel technology to optimise processes and achieve operational efficiency. In 2019, we underwent an important modernisation scheme via the META project and implemented systems such as XOS and N4, which specialise in handling container goods. As a port, we have invested heavily in technology and cybertechnology to achieve operational efficiency and excellence.
The META project allows the port to achieve continuous operational improvement, optimise resources, better trace our processes throughout the service chain and use automation to reduce manual processes and avoid errors.

Tell us about the sustainability initiative the port has implemented with GreenYellow.
Puerto de Barranquilla is committed to sustainability principles. A key initiative involves adopting solar energy. With ample warehouse and roof space available, installing solar panels offers a significant opportunity to transition to cleaner energy sources and reduce electricity costs.
In November 2023, we signed a contract with GreenYellow to generate 31% of our power via solar. This includes installing five solar rooftops across 12.19 hectares [121,900 square metres], with a total capacity of 2.047 MWp that can produce 3,100 MWh annually. This project aims to reduce our emissions by 15,289 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, which is equivalent to planting over 72,800 new trees annually in Colombia.
This initiative not only supports SDG [Sustainable Development Goal] 13 by mitigating climate change impacts but also aligns with our commitment to sustainable development under SDGs 7 and 9, enhancing energy efficiency and promoting innovative infrastructure solutions.

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