The Minister of Infrastructure, Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas, said last Friday (13) that the government intends to hold auctions for 40 to 44 infrastructure assets next year, reports “Agência Brasil”. The port, airport, highway and railway concession projects are expected to reach R$ 101 billion in investment over the duration of the contracts.
Among the projects is the concession to the private sector of 22 airports (divided into three blocks), seven highways, nine port terminals, two railways and the early renewal of four rail freight transport contracts. During a press conference on Friday afternoon, the minister presented the balance of the department's actions in 2019. In total, 27 assets were sold, which should result in R$ 9.4 billion in investments and R$ 5.9 billion in grants.
“The year was very interesting, a good year for infrastructure where we managed to achieve what was planned. We continued some things that were going on and managed to structure others”, said the minister. “The concession program is on its way to being a success and it will be a success because the conditions we offer are unmatched anywhere else in the world.”
Nova Dutra
The minister said that the re-tendering of Nova Dutra will be the main highlight of next year. The current concession expires at the beginning of 2021, but the government wants to hold the auction in 2020. The project is expected to generate investments of R$ 13 billion. “We have a great possibility of collecting grants, but this is not our obligation. We are making concessions to generate investment,” he said.
The minister also highlighted the concession of BR-163 in the stretch between Mato Grosso and Pará. The paving of the highway was completed this year by the federal government. The forecast is that the 970 kilometer stretch between Sinop (MT) and Miritituba (PA) will be granted to the private sector.
The highway became an important route for transporting agricultural production from Mato Grosso. According to the minister, with the paving there will be a gain in the efficiency of cargo transportation in the region and an increase in productivity.
“The paving of BR-163 means increased fluidity efficiency. Now we will know what day the loading will take place and what day it will be unloaded at the port”, he said. “Today you have 15 million tons of installed capacity at the port of Miritituba and a series of projects that are in the queue to be installed. We are going to greatly increase capacity.”
In addition to BR-163, the government will also auction BR-101, in Santa Catarina. The privatization auction is scheduled to take place on February 21st. The 220-kilometer stretch is located on the state's border with Rio Grande do Sul.
Railways
In terms of railways, the highlight goes to the concession of the West-East Integration Railway (Fiol), on the stretch between Ilhéus and Caetité, both in Bahia; and Ferrogrão, on the 1,142 kilometer stretch between Lucas do Rio Verde (MT) and Miritituba (PA). “Ferrogrão is a more efficient alternative from an environmental and energy point of view for transporting this cargo from Mato Grosso,” said Freitas, who highlighted the possibility of a reduction in the value of rail freight due to competition with new operators.
In the balance of this year's actions, the minister highlighted the concession of BR-364/365, in the 437 kilometer stretch connecting Jataí (GO) and Uberlândia (MG), the concession of the central branch of the North-South Railway, the concession of 12 port terminals and also 12 airports, six in the Northeast, four in the Center-West and two in the Southeast.
Concessions with problems
The minister commented on concessions that face problems, such as that of Viracopos airport, in Capinas (SP), whose concession expiry process was opened by the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac). “I think we are closer to the solution […] it seems to me that now they are already signaling for the return”, he said.
Freitas also cited the case of BR-040 and the Transnordestina Railway. The company that manages the 936.8 kilometer stretch of BR-040 between Brasília (DF) and Juiz de Fora (MG) wants to return the concession to the federal government. In the case of Transnordestina, the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) also wants the contract to expire.
“This year we managed to advance these regulations. The re-bidding decree came out, the two resolutions from the regulatory agencies that govern the way the procedures will be carried out came out. The first return request, which is BR-040, will be incorporated and I already have signs that other concessionaires will follow the same path. We will start working on these restructurings and put these projects back in our portfolio”, he said.
International departure
The minister also spoke about the government's decision to eliminate the additional fee of US$ 18 on international boarding fees. According to the minister, the measure was not taken this year due to it not being included in the Budget.
Created in 1999, this fee is paid by passengers traveling outside the country and charged with the boarding fee, being one of the sources of revenue for the National Civil Aviation Fund (FNAC), which finances improvements to airport infrastructure.
“Ending the fee means giving up revenue, but it’s something that makes sense,” he said. “The tariff will end. The question is for us to calibrate this impact in the Budget law. This impact was not foreseen in the LOA [Annual Budget Law] of 2020, but in 2021 it will end”.
Tarcísio also said that the government continues to study an alternative for Infraero, after the privatization of the airports managed by the company. “It has a list of possibilities, it can enter the administration of Alcântara, after the Technological Safeguards agreement, it can make agreements for the administration of regional airports, it has the possibility of generating revenue with the provision of services”, he said. “There is a strong possibility of recalling the company to reach a market segment that it is not reaching.”
