The President of Peru, Alan García Pérez, today visited the facilities of the PERU LNG plant. Located at kilometer 170 of the Panamericana Sur, once construction is completed in mid-2010, the plant will be the fourteenth of its kind in the world and the first in South America. PERU LNG is a US$3.8 billion project, representing the largest investment in Peru's history. The PERU LNG plant is also a world-class example of excellence in engineering and construction, safety standards, and social and environmental responsibility.
President Garcia stated that PERU LNG: "Is the most important project ever built in the country". He emphasized that the project plays an important role in "a historic change for the country that will allow Peru to stop being an energy importer and become an energy exporter".
The PERU LNG plant has achieved significant progress recently; the LNG tank walls are half completed and the marine terminal trestle bridge has made significant progress of 450 meters long out of a total of 1,300 meters. The LNG storage tanks will be the largest in Peru at 50 meters high and 80 meters in diameter.
This large-scale project plays an important role in the Peruvian national economy and in the localities of the areas near Chincha and Cañete. To date, the amount of investment made by the project is US$1.3 billion. In addition, to date more than 8,500 Peruvians have worked directly for the project through approximately 120 Peruvian companies that have participated in different aspects of construction.
PERU LNG represents a great achievement for Peru in terms of social responsibility. The project has launched sustainable development programs in the project's areas of influence to promote agricultural development and training of local leaders to facilitate the implementation of development and infrastructure programs.
Barbara Bruce, General Manager of PERU LNG, said "we are proud to receive President Alan Garcia here today at the plant and it was a pleasure to share with him the progress we have made in the construction of the LNG plant that will position Peru as an energy leader in the world and generate opportunities, economic growth and employment for Peruvians".