Argentina waterway concession draws only one bid

The tender for Argentina’s section of the Paraná-Paraguay waterway attracted only one bid from Belgian firm Dredging International, while the procurement authority warned of possible irregularities.

Dredging International requested an injunction last December, alleging the process was rigged in favor of current concessionaire Jan de Nul.

The claims, which sought to invalidate the tender guidelines, were dismissed by ports and navigation agency ANPYN earlier this week.

However, two days before bid opening the procurement authority issued a non-binding resolution in which it mentioned issues in the way the bidding documents were drafted, daily Clarín reported.

The 30-year contract covers a 1,477km stretch between the so-called Confluencia point and the point where the Plata river flows into the Atlantic.

The concessionaire can expect annual income of US$410mn on average, bidding documents show. 

The concession is among the first to have been auctioned since President Javier Milei took office in December 2023.