San Lorenzo Megaport Project

Peru is a country that is continuously in the process of advancement and development in an attempt to rise from their economic status, therefore it's not uncommon that such a proposed (2006) project like the San Lorenzo Megaport came into existence.

The $12 billion USD project would convert the San Lorenzo island off the coast of Callao, Peru into South America's largest and only megaport.  The megaport would be created using land reclamation techinques with completion of the project estimated over sevens years.  The companies spearheading the project are under the authority of two retired Peruvian Naval Captains who envisioned a project that would allow Peru to reclaim its position as one of the strongest ports in South America. 

 

The Project would be carried out in four stages:
1. Construction of Megaport's infrastructure including: 3km airport, naval base, hub port, shipyard facilities
2. Construction of freeways and roads, parking, and other vehicular services
3. Construction of tunnels, bridges, and high-speed railways that will connect the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic via the Amazon River
4. Implementation of various utilities and systems (ie. water drainage systems, lighting and communication systems, river transportation systems, etc.)

The project would also include the construction of a financial center similar to the one in Callao, as well as airport hotels. 

The project has been proposed to the Peruvian government in previous years but has yet to be approved and is still in the process of locating investors.  There is some opposition to the project which claims that the San Lorenzo Island is a natural habitat to thousands of sea birds as well as a large colony of Sea Lions.  The construction of the Megaport would obviously encroach upon the wildlife habitat and pose a threat to the animals who inhabit it. 

The San Lorenzo Island is Peru's largest island with a size of 16.5 sq km and maintains an interesting history.  The island was once used during Pre-Hispanic times by the natives as a cementary where many remains and indiginous artifacts have been discovered.  In 1866, the Spanish utilized the island to repair their ships and bury their dead during the Battle of Callao.  Even the famous Charles Darwin explored the island!

**images taken from the www.megapuerto.net website