At Ternium we are progressing with the construction of our new plant in Palmar de Varela, which is 75% complete. We are planning completion during the first half of 2020.
Among the most advanced works are the installation of the metal structure supporting and protecting the main facilities, the electrical room and water treatment plant, and the civil works laying the foundations for the mill equipment, whose second level has been fully executed.
Together with Transelca, we expanded the Sabanalarga electrical substation, achieving 50% of the construction of the 17 kilometers in the electric power transmission network designed to supply our plant.
Similarly, with Triple A and Gases del Caribe, we are progressing on the installation of approximately 4.5 kilometers of internal pipe networks providing water and gas services.
“We are very excited by the progress so far at this new plant, which is the first one built from scratch by Ternium in Colombia, and will also benefit the economies of the neighboring municipalities of Palmar de Varela, Ponedera, Santo Tomás, the Atlántico department and the Caribbean Region as a whole. We hope that this area will become a development pole encouraging more companies to invest in the Caribbean Coast, as was the case with Pesquería, near Monterrey in Mexico, which was able to establish itself as a major industrial development center following Ternium’s arrival. Our purpose is to continue replacing imports with Colombian work and added value,” explained Sebastian Castro, Executive President of Ternium in Colombia.
In collaboration with SENA Atlántico and the City Hall of Palmar de Varela, we have provided 590 people with department, preparing them for the various opportunities in the region which will be opened up with the new plant, as well as the value chain set in motion once it is up and running.
We have also carried out safety training, specifically concerning behavior and risk perception issues, targeting the over 800 workers involved in construction and assembly, as well as for the first 50 workers gearing up to be part of our Work team for the new production center.
Once operational, the plant will create some 300 quality jobs, boosting the regional economy thanks to the new needs created by the production center which will have to be met with repair shops, transport, and food and lodging requirements, especially given the numbers of suppliers and customers who will need to be close to their resources.
The new production center was designed according to a philosophy of environmental responsibility and eco-efficiency, leading to the implementation of various technologies for the responsible use of resources, including the reuse of 97% of process waters and the optimization of energy consumption by production equipment and lighting systems.