Port development is essential for a country’s economic growth. Ports serve as vital hubs in international trade, facilitating the movement of goods and promoting competitiveness, productivity, and economic development across regions. They enable countries to participate more fully in the global economy, stimulate local industries, and attract foreign investment. In this regard, the Almirante Miguel Grau Port Terminal project in Tacna emerges as a strategic initiative for Peru’s southern region, potentially transforming it into a significant logistics hub.
This new project, estimated to cost around $ 400 million, is poised to become a key piece of infrastructure, with the capacity to handle imports and exports between Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Asian markets. Directly managing these commercial flows will significantly reduce dependence on other ports, particularly those located farther north or in neighboring countries. Given its strategic location near international borders, the new port in Peru will help to boost the country’s competitiveness and open new commercial routes to the Pacific Ocean.
Interest in the Almirante Miguel Grau Port project is growing internationally. Investors in the United States and Hong Kong have shown strong interest in developing and executing this new infrastructure. Their attention reflects the port’s promising potential and the broader opportunities arising from Peru’s expanding role in global trade networks.
Peruvian Port Attracts Investors Based in the U.S. and Hong Kong
The regional governor of Tacna, Luis Torres Robledo, recently announced that a second major international company had expressed a concrete interest in investing in the development of the Almirante Miguel Grau Port. This announcement came after the port’s master plan was officially approved by the National Port Authority (ANP), a milestone that marked a turning point for the project.
Governor Torres Robledo received a formal letter of intent from representatives of ANU Global Green Energy Holdings, a U.S.-based company with considerable expertise in infrastructure investments, particularly in renewable energy and energy transition projects. In their communication, the company outlined its intention not only to invest in the construction of the port infrastructure but also to participate in the execution and long-term management of the Almirante Miguel Grau Port Terminal, as well as the administration of the Exclusive Commercial Zone that will complement the port operations.
This announcement follows an earlier proposal made just two weeks prior by the Port and Investment Consortium Tuzel, a company headquartered in Hong Kong. Tuzel proposed offering a $500 million investment to fully finance the terminal’s development. This competition among international investors highlights the strategic value of the new port in Peru for regional logistics and commerce.
In light of the growing international interest, Governor Torres Robledo reiterated his call to the Ministry of Transport and Communications to prioritize including the project’s master plan in the Multiyear Investment Report for Public-Private Partnerships (Imiapp). This move is considered crucial for accelerating the port’s execution timeline and for establishing Tacna as a new and dynamic logistics and commercial hub in southern Peru.
The project’s success could create a ripple effect across multiple industries, including transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, and services, further cementing the strategic importance of developing this major port in Peru.
Miguel Grau Port in Tacna Receives Master Plan Approval from ANP
A critical milestone for the Almirante Miguel Grau Port was achieved in September 2024 when the Board of Directors of the National Port Authority (ANP) officially approved the Grau Port Master Plan. The Regional Government of Tacna prepared and submitted this plan and underwent rigorous evaluations before being accepted and incorporated into the National Port Development Plan. The approval is widely regarded as a significant step forward, formally recognizing the project as a national priority and making it eligible for greater institutional support and investment promotion.
“We now have a birth certificate — we exist, we are no longer nameless, we are no longer just a dream, we are a reality. This is the first step. Now, hand in hand with ProInversión, we will work on the project’s economic and financial viability to promote it worldwide and begin construction as soon as possible,” Governor Torres Robledo emphasized in a statement to local media.
The development of the Almirante Miguel Grau Port goes hand in hand with broader regional initiatives, particularly the ambitious project to build the bioceanic railway. This railway aims to link southern Peru with Bolivia and Brazil, creating a powerful logistical corridor from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Integrating the port infrastructure with the new railway system would provide unparalleled connectivity for international trade routes, further increasing the importance of this new port in Peru.
Meanwhile, the president of the ANP underlined that the approval of the master plan represents the “birth certificate” of this key project. He pointed out that this step paves the way for more detailed technical, economic, and financial studies to be conducted in collaboration with the Private Investment Promotion Agency (ProInversión). These studies will be essential for structuring the project to attract both domestic and international investors and ensure the long-term success of the new port in Peru.
Conclusion
The Almirante Miguel Grau Port project in Tacna has rapidly evolved from a visionary idea into an emerging reality, thanks to strategic planning, strong government support, and growing international interest. With investors from the United States and Hong Kong already signaling their commitment and with formal backing from Peru’s key regulatory bodies, the future of this port in Peru looks promising.
As construction begins and related infrastructure projects like the bioceanic railway advance, the port is poised to redefine southern Peru’s role in global trade. It will create new economic opportunities for the region and contribute significantly to Peru’s overall economic resilience and international connectivity.