Santos Brasil starts operating liquid bulk at the Port of Itaqui

On Nov 25, Santos Brasil commenced its liquid bulk operations in the Port of Itaqui, marked by the arrival of a cabotage vessel bringing diesel and gasoline to TGL 3, the first of three terminals purchased by the company in 2021 to be granted authorization to operate from the National National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). The procedure was deemed a success.

The TGL 3 has a nominal capacity of 20 thousand m³, distributed in seven tanks for the storage of diesel, gasoline, anhydrous ethanol, and biodiesel. The terminal is connected to the exterior by sea, road, rail, and pipeline. It was one of two brownfields (both of which were already operational) sold at the Sao Paulo stock exchange auction. The other is the TGL 1, which is expected to begin operations later this year. The third terminal (TGL 2, a greenfield) is scheduled to open in 2026.

According to Carlos Quintero, director of Liquid Bulk at Santos Brasil, this first cargo unloading operation was a watershed moment for the company, which is now establishing operations in the liquid bulk sector, which, along with containers and integrated logistics, is one of their growth vectors. “The Port of Itaqui is a distribution hub for oil derivatives to the Northeast, North, and Midwest regions, and it has enormous agribusiness potential. We hope to capitalize on the increased demand from port customers and gradually increase terminal occupancy,” he says.

According to Quintero, the expansion of the TGL3 and TGL1 will begin as soon as the ANP issues the construction authorization, which the company anticipates will happen later this year and will include the installation of new tanks, modernization of loading systems, increased and modernized automation methods, new road access, and expansion of rail loading positions. The greenfield project includes the construction of 85,000 m³ of nominal capacity as well as the terminal’s entire infrastructure.

Investments in the three units should exceed BRL 600 million and will expand the current nominal capacity from 54 thousand m³ to 201 thousand m³. Each lease term for the Itaqui terminals is 20 years, with the possibility of successive extensions up to a limit of 70 years.

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