BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — TecPlata S.A., a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), has become the first port in Argentina to achieve carbon neutrality, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts toward sustainable industrial practices.
TecPlata’s certification, which underscores its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, involves promoting responsible resource use and offsetting unavoidable emissions through certified carbon credits.
These credits support the development of renewable energy sources, and TecPlata’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be monitored annually.
“This certification is a testament to TecPlata’s dedication to minimizing our environmental impact,” said Juan Pablo Trujillo, TecPlata’s chief executive officer.
“By reducing and offsetting our carbon footprint, we contribute to the protection of our planet and, at the same time, promote the use of renewable energy.”
The certification process adhered to international standards set by the GHG Protocol and ISO14064-1, with support from Carbon Neutral+.
TecPlata acquired carbon credits certified by Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), linked to the Manantiales Behr Wind Farm project in Argentina, owned by YPF.
The project replaces electricity generated by fossil fuel power plants with wind energy, further bolstering Argentina’s shift towards renewable energy.
TecPlata’s achievement is part of a broader sustainability initiative within the ICTSI Group, which includes waste management, efficient water use, and emission reduction.
The company’s commitment aligns with ICTSI’s global decarbonization objectives, which aim for a 26% reduction in GHG emissions per container movement by 2030, using 2021 as a baseline, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 for direct and indirect emissions (Scopes 1 and 2).
As the fifth terminal in the ICTSI network to achieve carbon neutrality, TecPlata follows the footsteps of Contecon Guayaquil in Ecuador, Contecon Manzanillo in Mexico, and Rio Brasil Terminal and Tecon Suape in Brazil.
Founded in 1988 in Manila, Philippines, ICTSI has built a reputation for excellence in port development, management, and operations.
The company’s portfolio spans across developed and emerging markets in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. ICTSI is recognized globally for its public-private partnerships and its commitment to sustainable development, supported by robust corporate social responsibility initiatives.
In October 2008, TecPlata was granted a 30-year concession to build and operate an all-purpose port terminal in the greater Buenos Aires area by the Consorcio de Gestión del Puerto La Plata.
With an investment of $450 million, TecPlata stands as Argentina’s most modern container terminal, boasting an initial capacity of 450,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), with potential expansion up to 1 million TEUs in the second phase.
