Southern Cone infra watch: Tenders, waterway dispute, contract readjustments

Roadworks agency Vialidad Nacional opened two bids for a 3.5bn-peso (US$19mn) tender for national route 5 access works near Mercedes municipality in Buenos Aires province.

The lowest bids were 6.3bn pesos and 6.4bn pesos, submitted by CPC and Vialtec.

Works involve widening, a new underpass and two roundabouts.

PARAGUAY

Members of the Paraguay-Paraná waterway agreement committee will hold an emergency meeting in Buenos Aires on January 26 to discuss a toll Argentina has been charging since January 1 and which Paraguay vehemently opposes.

Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina will send representatives.

Argentina is charging US$1.47/t of cargo to finance dredging and signaling works for a 1,180km stretch.

However, daily Última Hora quoted Paraguay’s economic relations and integration deputy minister Enrique Franco as saying that his country is dredging its own section of the waterway but doesn doesn’t charge any tolls. He maintained Argentina’s toll is not justifiable.

CHILE  

The public works ministry (MOP) has approved 81bn pesos (US$98mn) for construction companies as part of a cost readjustment unveiled in November to support companies with public works contracts and are struggling with inflation.

So far, the measure has benefited 165 companies and 425 contracts have been updated, daily Pulso reported quoting ministry sources.

Of the total number of contracts, 340 are with the ministry’s roadworks office. Applications will be received through March 31 and total cost is expected to reach US$420mn.