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Saturday, January 9, 2010
Today's News Headlines
* Govt to award binational bailey bridge tender by end-Feb - Costa Rica, Panama
* MOP to launch over 10 tenders in H1 - Panama
* Germany, Brazil sign MOU for infrastructure projects - Brazil
* Canal excavation, Atotonilco contracts to add US$300mn to ICA's backlog - Mexico, Panama
* Container movement at Callao down 12% in 2009 - Peru
* ArcelorMittal Tubarão sells 1.92Mt of residues in 2009 - Brazil
* CAF lends US$258mn for roadworks - Ecuador
* Govt, Bandes approve US$380mn in capital to CAF - Venezuela
* TPI reports 1.81% increase in traffic volume - Brazil
* Excavation work begins on metro line 12 - Mexico
* Govt starts construction of overpass in Chimaltenango - Guatemala
* DNIT invests US$10.4mn in São Paulo intermodal freight terminal - Brazil
* Ilopango airport seeks international certification - El Salvador
* IN BRIEF Jorge León named ProInversión head - Peru
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* Govt to award binational bailey bridge tender by end-Feb - Costa Rica, Panama
Panama's public works ministry (MOP) will award the tender to install a temporary bailey bridge over its side of the Sixaola river by end-February, a MOP official told BNamericas.
The Sixaola river connects Panama and Costa Rica and the existing structure is in bad condition.
Three companies presented offers: Constructora Urbana offered to carry out the work for US$1.05mn; US construction firm Internacional Underground Corporation presented a bid of US$1.12mn; and Transcaribe Trading made an offer of US$1.15mn.
"A committee is currently analyzing the offers and in approximately 45 days it will be awarded," the official said.
The tender only covers construction of the bailey bridge on the Panamanian side. Costa Rica is to launch a separate tender for its side of the bridge, according to the official.
"The two awardees will have to coordinate the proper connection of the bridge in the middle of the river," he added.
The bailey bridge will operate until a permanent binational bridge over the Sixaola river is built. The permanent structure, which will require an estimated investment of US$13.4mn, will be carried out as part of the Mesoamerica project, formerly known as Plan Puebla Panama.
The project will be financed by a loan from the Andean Development Corporation (CAF), with 41% of funding approved for Panama and 59% for Costa Rica, the executive director of the Mesoamerica project, María Teresa de Rendón, told BNamericas in a previous interview.
Construction of the bridge is likely to start in 2010, according to de Rendón.
By Indiana Corrales
Business News Americas
* MOP to launch over 10 tenders in H1 - Panama
Panama's public works ministry (MOP) will launch more than 10 tenders during H1, the ministry reported in a release.
"The tenders still do not have specific launch dates," a MOP official told BNamericas, adding: "Currently the bidding rules are being drawn up for each of the projects and once these are ready the tenders will be launched."
Among the projects to be awarded to the lowest bidder is a study to determine the structural condition of the Centenario bridge, which spans the Panama Canal.
Authorities will also hire a firm to evaluate and carry out rehabilitation works on the Las Americas bridge, which joins Balboa city with Arraiján district.
MOP also plans to repair roads on Contadora island and in the town of Llano Bonito in Herrera province.
Other projects include the extension of the La Amistad highway and its intersections; maintenance works on several bailey bridges; the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Transístmica highway; the design, construction and rehabilitation of roads and bridges in the capital's city center, San Miguelito district and in the canal area.
In western Panamá, a tender will be launched for the extension of the Arraiján-La Chorrera highway.
By Indiana Corrales
Business News Americas
* Germany, Brazil sign MOU for infrastructure projects - Brazil
The governments of Brazil and Germany have signed an MOU for economic cooperation on infrastructure and security projects in Brazil, government news service Agência Brasil reported.
The agreement is designed to help Brazil prepare for the upcoming 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
Infrastructure improvements, such as the modernization of public transport and the expansion of airports, will be necessary to handle in influx of people for the two events.
The agreement was posted in the official gazette Diário Oficial da União on January 7.
German companies are already participating in several stadium projects in cities such as Manaus, Brasília, Belo Horizonte and, more recently, São Paulo.
Germany hosted the 2006 World Cup.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Canal excavation, Atotonilco contracts to add US$300mn to ICA's backlog - Mexico, Panama
Mexican construction giant ICA (BMV, NYSE: ICA) is set to increase its backlog of projects by over US$300mn through new contracts it signed this week.
The company will add some US$150mn to its backlog through its participation in a consortium that will carry out excavation work worth US$268mn on the Panama Canal, ICA said in a release.
The project involves construction of a 3km section of the canal's new Pacific access channel (PAC-4), and will be completed in approximately 42 months.
The consortium comprises Spain's FCC (43%); ICA (43%); and Costa Rica's Constructora Meco (14%).
Meanwhile, ICA subsidiary Conoisa signed a contract with Mexican water authority Conagua on Thursday to build and operate the US$710mn Atotonilco wastewater treatment plant in Mexico's Hidalgo state.
Conoisa has a 10.2% stake in the project, which will contribute some 2.1bn pesos (US$165mn) to the company's backlog, ICA said in a report to Mexico City's bourse BMV.
ICA's backlog at end-3Q09 was worth 32.3bn pesos (US$2.54bn).
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Container movement at Callao down 12% in 2009 - Peru
Container traffic at Peru's Callao port fell 12% during 2009, according to national port authority Enapu.
The port, Peru's busiest, handled 1.08mn TEUs during 2009, compared to 1.203mn during 2008, Enapu president Mario Arbulú was quoted as saying by state news service Andina.
The decrease in traffic was caused by a drop in trade due to the international financial crisis, Arbulú said.
Despite the decline in volume, Callao was the only port in the region to move over a million containers, Arbulú said, adding that Enapu expects to report a profit in 2009.
The port authority expects container traffic to increase significantly in 2010 due to construction of the new Muelle Sur dock.
Port operator Dubai Ports World (DP World), which was awarded the concession of Muelle Sur in July 2006, is expected to begin equipping the new terminal later this month.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* ArcelorMittal Tubarão sells 1.92Mt of residues in 2009 - Brazil
Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal's (NYSE: MT) Tubarão unit in Brazil sold 1.92Mt of steel by-products in 2009 with revenues amounting to 107mn reais (US$61.5mn), the company said in a statement.
Blast furnace slag accounted for 30% of the total by volume. In 2010, Tubarão is expecting sales to reach 2.3Mt and is estimating revenues of 148mn reais.
The company says the electric power sector will be responsible for 49% of by-product revenues in 2010 followed by the cement and highway construction sector with 28%. Tubarão also sells by-products to the cryogenic gas sector, carbochemical and concrete manufacturers, railroads, makers of pre-molded products and ceramics, steelmills and the agricultural sector.
Located in Espírito Santo state, ArcelorMittal Tubarão generates 500,000t of residues for every 1Mt of steel produced.
"At Tubarão, slightly over 98% of residues are reused, well above the sector's average of 80%," the company said. "Currently, 5% of residues are reused for environmental purposes, 23% used internally and 70% are sold."
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* CAF lends US$258mn for roadworks - Ecuador
The Andean Development Corporation (CAF) has approved a US$258mn loan to finance roadworks in Ecuador, the financial entity reported in a release.
Resources will cover civil construction works and environmental remediation on the highways Bella Unión-Limón, Pedernales-Cojimíes, Rocafuerte-Tosagua, Tosagua Chone, Vilcabamba-Bellavista-Zumba-La Balsa, among others.
Funds will also be allocated to works on 20 bridges located in the Amazonian provinces of Carchi, Napo, Sucumbíos and Morona Santiago.
The transport and public works ministry (MTOP) is in charge of the program.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Govt, Bandes approve US$380mn in capital to CAF - Venezuela
The Venezuelan government and state-owned development bank Bandes have signed two agreements to provide a total of US$380mn in capital to the Andean Development Corporation (CAF), to be paid between now and 2017, the multilateral said in a release.
The funds are part of the 7-year US$2.5bn paid-in capital increase for CAF approved by its board in August.
CAF predicts it will approve US$1bn in loans for Venezuelan projects in 2010, in the electric power, public transport, social infrastructure and other sectors, and expects to disburse US$1.1bn over the next couple of years for projects already underway in the country.
The multilateral has approved nearly US$3bn in lending for projects in Venezuela in the past three years.
Caracas-based CAF has 16 shareholder countries from Latin America and the Caribbean, plus Spain and Portugal.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* TPI reports 1.81% increase in traffic volume - Brazil
Brazilian infrastructure firm Triunfo Participações e Investimentos (TPI) (Bovespa: TPIS3) said preliminary figures show traffic on its highway concessions in 2009 grew 1.81% compared to last year.
Consolidated traffic volume in 2009 was 64,085 vehicles compared to 62,946 vehicles in 2008.
Individual concessionaires Concer, Concepa and Econorte posted traffic increases of 2.42%, 1.27% and 1.80%, respectively.
TPI has operated highway concessions in the south and southeast of Brazil since 1995. The firm also has investments in companies that provide public services in the port and electricity generation sectors. TPI holds 100% of Power company Rio Verde Energia and shares control of Navegantes' port operator Portonave.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Excavation work begins on metro line 12 - Mexico
Excavation work has begun on Mexico City's subway line 12, connecting the Mixcoac and Tláhuac districts, the federal district (DF) government reported in a release.
City mayor Marcelo Ebrard turned on the earth pressure balance (EPB) shield, which the city purchased at a cost of some 400mn pesos (US$31.4mn), at a ceremony at the site where the Mexicaltzingo station will be located.
The 1,000t machine will excavate an 8km tunnel at a speed of 12m per day, and is the largest of its kind to be used in Latin America, according to Ebrard.
Work is being carried out by a consortium comprised of construction companies ICA (BMV, NYSE: ICA), Alstom and Gicsa, and is currently 30% complete, Ebrard said. The excavation is scheduled for completion in September 2011.
Construction of the new line will cost some 8.5bn pesos, the release said.
Line 12 will be 24km long, and have 22 stations. The project is expected to help reduce the city's carbon emissions by some 400,000t/y by discouraging the use of private vehicles, according to the DF government.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Govt starts construction of overpass in Chimaltenango - Guatemala
Construction of an overpass in Guatemala's Chimaltenango department has started, the presidential website reported in a release.
The overpass is being built at kilometer 53.8 of the Interamericana CA-1 highway.
Funding will come from the 239mn-quetzal (US$28.8mn) 2010 budget approved by the national government for infrastructure works in Chimaltenango. The overpass requires an investment of 25.7mn quetzals.
The structure will benefit some 579,000 people and will reduce traffic congestion on the Interamericana highway, located in the country's central region.
Work is expected to conclude within one year.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* DNIT invests US$10.4mn in São Paulo intermodal freight terminal - Brazil
Brazil's national transport infrastructure department (DNIT) has released 18.2mn reais (US$10.4mn) for the construction of an intermodal freight terminal on the outskirts of São Paulo city, national cargo transport association ABTC reported in a release.
Construction of the terminal will cost 26mn reais, with 18mn reais being provided by DNIT and the remainder by local government.
Works include the construction of 6.5km of paved roads, 2.3km of railway, a drainage system, power grid and a water and sewerage system. The site will also have 290 parking spaces.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Ilopango airport seeks international certification - El Salvador
El Salvador's port authority Cepa has filed a request with the civil aviation authority (AAC) to start a certification process for the Ilopango international airport, local paper La Prensa Gráfica reported.
Certification is granted when an airport's facilities, operating procedures and safety management systems comply with the standards set by the international civil aviation organization (ICAO).
However, the process is likely to require an important investment in time and resources, the report said.
"I think the process could take several years. However, it is important to obtain the certification and ensure that every step is taken to turn the Ilopango airport into a more secure terminal," AAC director José René Rodríguez was quoted as saying.
The certification of the country's main international airport (AIES), which was granted recently, took five years and an estimated US$8mn investment, the report said.
Ilopango served as El Salvador's international airport until AIES replaced it in the late 1970s. Ilopango is located in the eastern part of capital San Salvador and has limited room for expansion. AIES was built 50km south of the capital and has plenty of space to grow.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* IN BRIEF Jorge León named ProInversión head - Peru
Peru's former state penitentiary head Jorge Alejandro León Ballén has been named executive director of private investment promotion agency ProInversión, state news agency Andina reported.
León will replace production minister José Nicanor González Quijano, who has been acting as interim director since Cayetana Aljovín resigned last month.
Aljovín, who was criticized for alleged irregularities in the concession of Paita port and the delay of the concession of the Taboada wastewater treatment plant, will now present weekly TV show Panorama.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
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In-deph interview
* Mesoamerica: A permanent development initiative
María Teresa de Rendón
Executive director
Mesoamerica integration and development project
Regional
http://www.bnamericas.com/interviews/infrastructure/Maria_Teresa_de_Rendon_,Mesoamerica_integration_and_development_project,/169252646
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Main companies covered in today's news
* Empresa Concessionária de Rodovias do Norte S.A.
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/Empresa_Concessionaria_de_Rodovias_do_Norte_S,A,-ECONORTE/169252646
* Ministerio de Transporte y Obras Públicas
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/Ministerio_de_Transporte_y_Obras_Publicas-MTOP_,Ecuador,/169252646
* Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/Comision_Ejecutiva_Portuaria_Autonoma-CEPA/169252646
* Departamento Nacional de Infra-Estrutura de Transportes
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/Departamento_Nacional_de_Infra-Estrutura_de_Transportes-DNIT/169252646
* Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte S.A.B. de C.V.
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/Grupo_Aeroportuario_del_Centro_Norte_S,A,B,_de_C,V,-OMA/169252646
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