Lawmakers seek to salvage US$170mn Tunal II dam tender

Lawmakers in Mexico’s Durango state are seeking to revive the 3.58bn-peso (US$172mn) proposal to construct, operate and maintain the Tunal II dam through a public-private partnership (PPP), following the postponement of its tender. 

Martha Alicia Arreola, of Morena party, told daily El Sol de Durango that the project could still advance next year even though the state spending budget does not include funding for it. 

"We are working in all the commissions, trying to unite all the federal legislators so that Durango has the Tunal 2 dam and has the benefit of healthy water," she reportedly said.

According to the most recent update on development bank Banobras’ PPP promotion site Mexico Projects Hub, the state will now receive bids until 2023, but a specific date was not provided. 

BNamericas reported in September 2021 that authorities planned to launch a tender for a 35-year concession and select the winner during the first quarter of 2022. Works were scheduled to start in the first half and operations by end-2025.

The federal government would provide 71% of total funding, the state government 12%, and the rest would come from private players.