OVERVIEW: Colombia's infra accomplishments in 2014

Private investment in Colombia's highways, ports and railways grew 24% in 2014 to almost 4.6tn pesos (US$1.76bn), according to figures from national infrastructure agency ANI.

Spending in the highway sector was the highest contributor to that figure, accounting for 3.5tn pesos, a new record for Colombia, ANI president Luis Fernando Andrade said in a Wednesday (Mar. 11) presentation of the agency's annual accountability report.

The ANI is overseeing Colombia's flagship infrastructure program, the US$25bn 4G highway initiative. Last year, the agency wrapped up the first wave of 4G tenders, awarding public-private partnership (PPP) contracts for 10 projects worth a combined 11tn pesos.

"Just this first part is bigger than any other concession that's been awarded in the history of Colombia," Andrade said.

The official also highlighted the Ernesto Cortissozairport concession in Barranquilla, which was awarded in December. The contract includes modernization works valued at 345bn pesos.

The physical highway infrastructure built in 2014, however, was down from the previous year at 212km and fell short of ANI's goal of 300km, mostly as a result of technical or land-related delays, according to documents published on the agency's website.

Repairs were also carried out on 268km of highways in Colombia during the year, some 100km short of the ANI goal.

2015 TARGETS

This year, ANI is aiming for private infrastructure investment to hit 4.55tn pesos, although Andrade said he expects to exceed that target.

The agency also plans to award contracts for the projects in the second round of the 4G highway initiative. ANI has so far launched eight tenders to this end, worth a total 16tn pesos, and expects to award these contracts during 1H15.

The annual construction targets for 2015 are 300km of divided highway and 30km of multilane highway.

PRIVATE INITIATIVES

ANI also aims to tender seven private sector initiative projects during 2015.

Under Colombia's 2012 PPP law, private companies can submit unsolicited proposals to the government, on the condition that they assume the costs and early-stage risks. If a project makes it past the pre-feasibility and feasibility stages, the government must open it up to bids from other developers.

So far, the government has received 61 proposals and rejected 36 of them, according to Andrade. The presidential cabinet of ministers has approved four of the remaining 25 proposals, of which ANI has tendered one – the 1tn-peso Ibagué-Cajamarca highway project.

ANI is currently reviewing the other 21 projects – eight of which are carrying out pre-feasibility studies, while the remaining 13 have advanced to the feasibility stage.