Ana Cunha highlights geostrategic importance of the Azores in the future of maritime traffic
The Regional Secretary for Transport and Public Works highlighted today the "geostrategic importance of the Azores," not only for Portugal but also for the world, as a "key aspect in the future of maritime traffic."
Ana Cunha spoke on the sidelines of the conference "The United States and Portugal: A Partnership for Prosperity - Energy Security, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Engagement." On the occasion, she ensured that the Regional Government intends to "continue promoting and creating conditions so that various regional ports, namely Praia da Vitória port, will be able to supply LNG (liquefied natural gas) to the ships calling at regional ports.
"The Government of the Azores considered the Praia da Vitória Port the ideal place for the implementation of a LNG terminal insofar as this port has more potential for expansion. This area comprises an industrial zone with plenty of space for the installation of medium-sized warehouses in the first phase and has a good potential for expansion in the future," stressed the Regional Secretary for Transport.
Ana Cunha stated that the "Regional Port Authorities, representing the Regional Government in this area, has recently signed a consultancy agreement with the European Investment Bank in order to explore the feasibility of establishing an LNG terminal in Praia of Vitoria and to study potential LNG supply markets. This study comprises a business model, the investments deemed necessary and possible returns for that investment."
For the Regional Secretary, this conference "was a unique opportunity to hear other partners in the area" as well as "to realise that this investment does not come to an end in the short term, but in the medium term."
"We just have to think of the investment that needs to be made in changing a regular cargo ship, which has an average useful life of 30 years. Making the investment in the middle of this useful life will not be justified financially. We have to wait for the end of the useful life and only then, after replacing the ship, we can think of the possibility of introducing LNG," said the government official.
"There are several aspects that urge us to create these conditions quickly," said the Regional Secretary. "If we think about cruise ships, with their growing environmental concerns, they tend to use LNG, namely for "the use auxiliary engines when called at ports."
Ana Cunha assured that the Regional Government continues to work on this matter "in order to create the conditions for attracting private investment to our goal of implementing an important LNG terminal at Praia da Vitória Port for ships crossing the Atlantic."