Cancun, Q.R. — The federal government has approved land clearing for a Maya Train cargo terminal in Cancun. The cargo terminal will be built on 261 hectares near the Cancun International Airport.
The Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Semarnat) approved the clearing of 259.5 hectares of land Monday.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) granted the environmental impact authorization for the construction of the cargo terminal that will be used for Maya Train maintenance and refueling.
The permit was granted subject to the applicant subsequently processing additional authorization for the supply of fuel for self-consumption by the railway system.
“As a result of the fuel supply zone for locomotives, the developer must take the necessary steps to obtain the corresponding environmental impact authorization for hydrocarbon sector activities from ASEA (Safety, Energy and Environment Agency), a decentralized administrative body of Semarnat,” the Environmental Impact Statement states.
This authorization must be ready before the cargo terminal begins operating.
The fueling area will consist of two 240,000 liter diesel storage tanks as well as an additional 20,000 liter diesel exhaust fluid storage tank. The entire storage system will hold 480,000 liters of diesel, “falling below the list of Highly Risky Activities,” the MIA states.
The cargo terminal, which will also include National Guard accommodations, will be built on land owned by the Quintana Roo government near the Cancun International Airport. Of the 261 hectares, 259.5 hectares will be cleared for construction with 18 months to complete building.
The Cancun Tren Maya cargo terminal will be the first of two built in the state. The 7.7 billion pesos terminal is being funded by the federal government. The Cancun cargo terminal is expected to be completed in 2026, at which time a second similar terminal will be built in Chetumal sometime in 2027.
In addition to the two cargo terminals, a cargo yard is planned for construction in the municipality of Tulum also in 2027. President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government will spend 5.4 billion pesos on the Chetumal cargo terminal and another 154.8 million pesos on the Tulum cargo yard.
