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Brazil transport minister sees at least three rival in interstate auction next week

Brazilian Transport Minister Renan Filho informed Reuters on Tuesday that he expects at least three rivals to participate in the concession auction of federal highway BR262/MG set up for next week.

Filho, who is in Europe to provide Brazil's federal highways concessions pipeline to worldwide investors, said in a video interview that a minimum of one of those firms must be a new player in the country's interstate sector.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Brazil's government has been trying to attract worldwide investment in its federal highway concessions, as it expects to auction 35 roads by the end of 2026, amounting to 130 billion reais ($ 22.8 billion) in anticipated dispensations by the private sector.

In September, French business Vinci Highways won a concession auction to operate a stretch of highway BR-040 for thirty years, after ending up being the first foreign company to bid in a federal highway concession in Brazil since 2007.

SECRET ESTIMATES

The expectation is that at least three groups get involved in the auction, with at least one new gamer, Filho said, mentioning his impressions after meetings with financiers.

He also said the government intends to conclude by the end of the year a brand-new pipeline of trains concessions to be auctioned as of 2025.

WHAT'S NEXT

On October 31, Brazil is expected to auction off 30-year concession to run interstate BR-262, which links the cities of Uberaba and Betim, both in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais. The agreement needs 714 million reais in financial investments during the period.

It will be the fourth of nine federal highways concession auctions Brazil's federal government prepares to hold this year.

(source: Reuters)