en.Wedoany.com Reported - Argentina plans to advance large-scale bidding in the road infrastructure and transportation sectors in the third quarter of this year. The bidding schedule revolves around privatization and concessions, aiming to drive the construction of key domestic projects.

At the national level and in the city of Buenos Aires, the most relevant bidding and construction agendas are progressing, while provinces are mainly involved in smaller-scale projects in areas such as water supply systems, water and sanitation, health, education, roads, and housing.

The city of Buenos Aires has launched bidding for the engineering, construction, and equipment of the F subway line, with the bid opening scheduled for September 10. The project, with an investment of approximately $1.35 billion, will build a new 9.8-kilometer line connecting the city's northern and southern neighborhoods and providing transfers to the existing six subway lines. Recently, the city government obtained legislative authorization to finance this most significant subway infrastructure project in recent years through debt.

In terms of privatization, the sale of a 90% stake in AySA, the water and sewage service company for the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, will open for bids in August, with the government expecting to raise about $500 million. As part of the privatization process, Argentina has identified at least $1.3 billion in projects to expand water and sanitation services in the AMBA region. Meanwhile, the bidding terms for the concession of the railway freight company Belgrano Cargas y Logística are expected to be released soon, a line crucial to the logistics of the country's future mining development. The government may also bid this year for the Manuel Belgrano and General San Martín thermal power plants, the Tandanor shipyard, and the mint. The bidding plan also includes the concession of the railway operating company Sofse (Sociedad Operadora Ferroviaria), as well as minority stakes in Nucleoeléctrica Argentina and Yacimientos Carboníferos Río Turbio. According to Economy Minister Luis Caputo, these privatizations could generate $2 billion in revenue for the government this year.

In the road infrastructure sector, the country is advancing the bidding process for the federal concession network, which covers 9,000 kilometers of national strategic highways, aiming to repair road infrastructure, improve safety, reduce logistics costs, and enhance competitiveness through private investment. This week, the government signed contracts with winning companies for Phase II-A, covering 1,871 kilometers of national roads and highways previously operated by the state-owned company Corredores Viales. Starting July 1, Corredor Vial 5, under the Ceosa Group, will take over the Pampa Section, while Rutas Sur Atlántico (comprising Concret-Nor, Marcalba, Pose, and Coarco) will take over the South – Atlantic – South Access Section, beginning operations, management, and maintenance of a total of 1,871 kilometers of national roads and highways. Bids for Phases II-B and III have been received and are awaiting award. The National Road Administration (Vialidad Nacional) is conducting two additional road infrastructure repair and maintenance bids, with bid openings in August. The budget for the repair of National Routes 38 and 79 is estimated at 71.917 billion pesos ($48.5 million), while the repair of National Route 89 is estimated at 76.133 billion pesos.

In waterways and dredging, following the award of the Paraná waterway concession, new developments are expected in the bidding for the Martín García Channel project, a key route for international trade between Argentina and Chile. At the end of June, the Administrative Commission of the Río de la Plata (CARP) received two engineering bids for works that will ensure navigability and strategic improvements to the waterway. Jan de Nul, the winner of the Paraná waterway, submitted a bid of $65.9 million, while Boskalis Uruguay bid $149.3 million. After opening the financial bids, CARP has entered the evaluation phase and has not yet reported an expected award date.