Colombia plans to begin awarding social PPPs within two years

Colombian infrastructure agency ANI plans to award the first social public-private partnership project in its portfolio within a maximum of two years, the agency's vice president of structuring, Jonathan Bernal, told BNamericas.

The ANI has included 13 social infrastructure projects in its portfolio of initiatives that will be carried out using the PPP model.

Of these, five are tertiary care hospitals, four are educational institutions and four are water and sewerage initiatives. These projects will require a combined investment of more than 6tn pesos (US$1.4bn).

Bernal added that by the end of President Gustavo Petro's government in August 2026, a total of three projects are expected to be awarded, and these will be defined as the respective processes advance.

According to official estimates, the water and sewerage projects would require investments of 4.3tn pesos, the health initiatives 1.2tn pesos and the educational facilities 560bn pesos.

In line with the ANI's plans, the concession winners will have to build, operate and maintain the works, which would guarantee the quality of services.

The water and sewerage projects include wastewater treatment systems in Neiva and Duitama, a wastewater treatment plant in Cúcuta and an aqueduct to serve Santa Marta.

The concession term for the Duitama system in Boyacá department is 25 years, as in the case of the Neiva system in Huila department.

The aqueduct project for Santa Marta, capital of Magdalena department, is aimed at increasing water provision and reducing losses, as well as extending sewerage networks. The concession would be for 28 years.

The PPP for the Cúcuta wastewater plant has been structured by the International Financial Corporation (IFC) and involves a concession lasting 18 years.