Infrastructure: The week in 10 stories

Brazil

The situation of Brazil’s construction conglomerate Odebrecht is deteriorating, increasing the chances of the firm's holding company filing for bankruptcy protection. 

Amid this scenario, although Brazilian banks are concerned about Odebrecht's situation, they appears well provisioned to face a more drastic situation. 

Meanwhile, the federal government intends to create a 1bn-real (US$263mn) credit line to support the renewal of subway and train fleets. 

The government of Brazil’s São Paulo state announced that a consortium had been contracted to install doors on subway platforms at 36 stations, including lines No.1, No. 2 and No. 3 of the state capital, investing 342mn reais.

CHILE

A multipurpose terminal in northern Chile’s Atacama region suffered a setback this week, after environmental evaluation service SEA dismissed the environmental impact study (EIS) for the project. 

In the airport sector, Chile is advancing with studies to determine the infrastructure investments needed to modernize its secondary airport network, in order to deal with higher demand from low-cost airlines. 

COLOMBIA

Country’s attorney general fined 11 former and current members of the board of state-owned Banco Agrario over their role in the approval of a 120bn-peso (US$36.7mn) loan granted to concessionaire Navelena, linked to Brazilian firm Odebrecht. 

Infrastructure agency ANI, is evaluating a PPP proposal to build a 329km railway running to the port of Brisa. A project to build the line is estimated to cost US$680mn.

PARAGUAY

The country’s public works ministry (MOPC) issued the first tender call for improvement works on the Ruta 9 highway, dubbed Transchaco.

In addition, Paraguay’s government announced a US$1.5bn plan to boost economic growth.