Luxembourg, 29/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) is to loan 200 million EUR to the company Havenbedrijf Rotterdam N.V. to build a new container terminal. Known as "Euromax", this terminal will allow Rotterdam to bolster its position as Europe's largest port in terms of freight volume and container traffic, and will help to improve transport liaisons within the EU and between it and third countries.
With a surface area of 100 hectares (which could be extended at a later date), the new terminal will be equipped with quays of a total length of 1,800 metres, and its waters will have a depth of 19.65 metres. The Rotterdam Port company will carry out its construction and dredging work, and Euromax, a joint company set up by container and transporter terminal owners, will take care of the buildings and provide the equipment. Work will start during the first half of 2005, and will finish at the end of 2008. The new terminal will be phased into service after 2007. In the next fifteen years, container traffic is likely to increase by 8% a year, and the extra capacity provided by Euromax will help to absorb the growth of traffic until 20010
The EIB has also granted a contract to BNG (Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten) relative to a global loan on 100 million EUR. This global loan, which is in fact a line of credit, will help to pay for small and medium projects in the fields of public infrastructure, health and education in the Netherlands.