en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Brazilian government plans to initiate public hearing procedures for the concession of two highway segments in the state of Santa Catarina, expected to attract over BRL 9 billion (approximately USD 1.8 billion) in investment and strengthen a project pipeline that has already drawn interest from both new and returning participants. The public hearings are scheduled for June 9 to 16.
Cristiano Della Giustina, Planning Director at the state-owned enterprise Infra S.A., which is responsible for structuring the contracts, stated that the projects developed in Santa Catarina aim to enhance logistics efficiency, ensuring greater safety and predictability for cargo and passenger transport. He noted that these structured projects focus on modernization, sustainability, and improving connectivity between strategic regions of the state, directly contributing to economic development and competitiveness. The federal government plans to launch these two contracts by the end of this year.
Lot 1 includes sections of BR-153/SC, BR-282/SC, and BR-470/SC, totaling 515.6 kilometers, with an estimated investment of BRL 6.4 billion. Lot 3 covers sections of BR-153/SC, BR-282/SC, and BR-480/SC, spanning 166 kilometers, with an estimated investment of BRL 2.71 billion. These models have adopted a free-flow electronic toll collection system, eliminating the need for physical toll booths or barriers.
The Brazilian highway sector has been one of the infrastructure areas with the highest volume of auctioned contracts and investment from the private sector. The federal government plans to launch a total of 14 concession contracts by 2026, covering 7,295 kilometers of highways, with an estimated investment of BRL 158 billion. Of these 14 auctions, two have already been completed. In the most recent auction, the sector welcomed a new competitor and a traditional player returning after a long absence.
At the end of May, a consortium formed by Mota-Engil, Odebrecht, and investment management company Galapagos won the auction for the Rota dos Sertões highway concession contract, with estimated investment and operating costs of approximately BRL 8.5 billion. This contract marks the debut of Portuguese giant Mota-Engil in Brazil's highway concession sector and the return of Brazilian infrastructure giant Odebrecht to the field.
Manuel Mota, Vice President of Mota-Engil, stated that the company won this auction with the support of Odebrecht and Galapagos and will closely monitor projects where it can leverage its influence and participate. Carolina Rocha, Chief Operating Officer of Brazilian asset management firm Perfin (a partner in highway concession operator EPR), said the outlook for highways remains optimistic, with the company currently holding seven assets and a robust investment portfolio. She believes the competitive environment is more orderly than when they entered in 2022 but still sees opportunities in the coming years.
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