IDB foresees US$ 2.2 bi for infrastructure in Brazil
Gazeta Mercantil - 01/18/2008
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) foresees the investment of nearly US$ 2.2 billion for the funding of public and private projects in the infrastructure sector in 2008. According to the infrastructure manager of the bank, Roberto Vellutini, US$ 1.4 bi are foreseen for projects in the public sector, including the works of the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) and up to US$ 800 million for projects of the private sector, amounting to more than US$ 4 billion of projects under progress. In 2007, the bank disbursed nearly US$ 1.3 billion for infrastructure projects in Brazil. For Vellutini, the bank intends to continue supporting the investments of the public sector, co-financing the PAC projects together with the Federal Government. He points out that the sectors of electric energy, mining, steel, agribusiness and ports may lead the financing demand this year. The project for the construction of the Hydroelectric Complex of the Madeira River alone, which includes the power plant of Santo Antônio, auctioned in December, 2007, with capacity for the generation of 3,150 MW, and the plant of Jirau, with generating capacity of 3.300 MW, to be auctioned in May, is initially budgeted in R$ 14.4 billion (US$ 8.2 billion). According to the National Agency of Electric Energy (Aneel), at least two auctions of transmission lines are expected to occur this year: one for the lot that will connect the Madeira River plants (6,494 MW), in Rondônia, to São Paulo, and the transmission line that connects Manaus (AM) to Macapá (AP). In the area of transportation, the public tenders of the west section of the Rodoanel in São Paulo, which foresee R$ 2 billion (US$ 1.14 billion) in the value of the grant and investments of nearly R$ 804 million (US$ 456.8 million) on the improvement of the roads, in addition to the construction of the new Airport Express line, which will connect the Luz Station to the Airport of Cumbica, and of the public tender for Public Private Partnership (PPP) of Line 5 of the Subway of São Paulo. The sector of ports may also presents the launch of several projects, both public and private, including the tender of the Port of Itajaí, which may require between R$ 300 million (US$ 170.5 million) and R$ 600 million (US$ 341 million). During the 17th Ibero-American Summit, IDB's president Luis Alberto Moreno affirmed that he intends to support the initiatives of the PAC such as the construction of the high-speed railroad, which will connect the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and may require US$ 9 billion in investments, expected to start operating in 2015.