The Valenciaport Authority has approved an eight-year extension of APM Terminals Valencia’s concession, extending the terminal’s operating rights until 2049.
The extension is tied to a new investment commitment of more than $12 million aimed at improving productivity, energy efficiency and environmental performance at the Spanish terminal.
With this approval, APM Terminals Valencia reaches the ordinary maximum concession term of 50 years permitted under Spanish port legislation. The concession originally began in 1999 and has been extended progressively over time.
Julián Fernández, Managing Director of APM Terminals Spanish Gateways, said the support of the Valenciaport Authority allows the company to move forward with investments that will strengthen sustainability, operational capacity and competitiveness.
A key environmental initiative will be the electrification of the Levante Quay through the installation of the first onshore power supply system. This will be one of four OPS systems planned by APM Terminals in Valencia.
The first phase includes a power delivery centre and the transformation and conversion substation required for the system’s operation, in line with European port decarbonisation targets for 2030 promoted by the Valenciaport Authority.
The OPS rollout is part of the OPS Valenciaport initiative, led by Fundación Valenciaport and co-financed by the EU Connecting Europe Facility Transport programme.
The second investment priority will adapt Levante Quay fenders to accommodate larger vessels operating under the Gemini cooperation involving Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.
APM Terminals said the upgrade will be important for Asia-Mediterranean services requiring draughts of up to 16.5 metres.
Tim Miltenburg, Head of Decarbonisation Centre of Excellence at APM Terminals, said the Valencia plan shows how port authorities and terminal operators can work together to reduce emissions beyond terminal operations and across the wider port ecosystem.
