Uruguayan construction of a Chinese seaport
In December 2018, Chinese company Shandong BaoMa and Uruguayan company CSI Ingenieros presented a proposal for a major port management project in Montevideo, Uruguay. The objective was to establish a private port for ships up to 50,000 tons, with the potential to develop a free trade zone, including a port, shipyard, and fish processing plant, on a 28-hectare private plot in Punta Sayago.
However, the project has faced opposition and legal issues, leading to its current suspension. Gabriel Otero, the mayor of Montevideo's Municipality A, stated that Shandong BaoMa only wants to build the port on private land. The area in Punta Sayago, currently unused, covers 180 hectares and already has port infrastructure, including roads, dredging of the area, and a cold storage chamber.
Shandong BaoMa, a company specializing in various sectors related to the sea, has not responded to the ANP's offer regarding the plot in Punta Sayago. The company has indicated that Punta Sayago is not of interest to them, and they have ruled out the possibility of a legal change from rural to port status, which the project requires.
The lack of public information about the project has sparked concern among local residents and environmental organizations. The project's suspension comes amidst reports that Montevideo port is considered the second-largest in the world for receiving illegal fishing, according to reports from Oceana and Oceanosanos.
Uruguay has offered to install the port on nearby state-owned land, which Shandong BaoMa is currently considering. Since his inauguration in 2015, Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez has sought a closer relationship with China, including the potential signing of a free trade agreement. This could potentially influence the company's decision.
The Shandong BaoMa initiative to install a port in Montevideo, Uruguay, is a significant venture for the company, which specializes in fishing, fishmeal production, port terminal management, and infrastructure for mining operations. The project, if built, would be a concession, which might be a reason for Shandong BaoMa's reluctance.
Numerous international ships visit Uruguay's coast in search of large calamar populations. The new plot in Punta Sayago is located one kilometer from Punta Yeguas, making it an ideal location for a port management project. The city proposed by Shandong BaoMa for a 30–50-year concession to operate a port is Montevideo, Uruguay.
The area's potential has not been lost on Shandong BaoMa, despite their current stance. The project envisions a significant investment of $200 million, which, if realised, could boost Uruguay's economy and maritime industry. However, the project's future remains uncertain, with both parties negotiating the best possible solution.
