Feasibility Review
for a
Capacity Expansion of the Puerto Bolivar Coal Terminal

Client

Han-Padron Associates, LLP (now CH2M HILL) Eleven Penn Plaza New York, New York 10001

for

Behre Dolbear & Company 1601 Blake Street, Suite 301 Denver, CO 80202

Completion Date

November, 1997

Project Description

The Puerto Bolivar Coal Terminal began operations in 1985, with the first commercial coal exports from the North Block Project of the Cerrejón Coal Mine. Exports have grown rapidly. Columbia is now the fourth largest coal exporter, surpassed only by Australia, South Africa, and the United States. The Cerrejon Mine is located on the Guajira Peninsula in northeast Colombia, about 145 km from the coast. A dedicated railroad was constructed to link the mine to the terminal.

Columbia, like other countries in South America, Asia, and Europe is privatizing industries. This includes its 50% partnership in the Puerto Bolivar Coal Terminal that the government owns through Carbocol. In preparation for privatization, Energy Associates was engaged to assist Han-Padron in their investigation. The assignment included: 1) an assessment of the existing on-shore and off-shore facilities to maximize the capacities and capabilities of the Puerto Bolivar facilities, and 2) an estimate the schedule/cost to expand the terminal to 21, 35 and 55 million mtpy.

One alternative for a possible expansion is illustrated in the example figure.