Brazil audit court approves US$6.4bn highway concessions in Paraná state

Brazilian audit court TCU gave the green light for the offering of two lots of highways in Paraná state, which will generate 35.1 billion reais (US$6.38bn) in investments. 

"The feasibility studies for the concessions of lots 3 and 6 of Paraná highways, known as PR Vias, were approved by the TCU and are now undergoing adjustments by [sector regulator] ANTT. After this stage, the notices will be released and then the lots will go to auction," the transport ministry said in a statement.

The 30-year contracts are expected to generate more than 240,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to the ministry. 

Lot 3 includes highways BR-369/PR, BR-373/PR, BR-376/PR, PR-090/PR, PR-170/PR, PR-323/PR and PR-445/PR. The main works will be building 71.7km of bypasses and widening of 116km.

Lot 6 is composed of BR-163/PR, BR-277/PR, PR-158, PR-180, PR-182, PR-280 and PR-483. Main works involve widening of 445.4km and building 13.7km of bypasses.

The roads are part of a total of six highway lots in the state, of which two were offered last year, involving investments of nearly 30bn reais.

Infraestrutura Brasil Holding XXI, a consortium led by Pátria Investimentos and including the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, won the auction for lot 1; and Consórcio Infraestrutura PR, formed by Brazilian firms EPR and Perfin, walked away with lot 2.