Infrastructure Ministry Delivers 39 Works in First Semester Despite Pandemic

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Ministry of Infrastructure, headed by Army reserve Captain Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas, completed 39 deliveries in the first half of the year, 36 of which were inaugurated in the period. This represents R$3.5 billion (US$700 million) in value. The report was released on Thursday, July 2nd, during a videoconference.

Freitas emphasized that Infrastructure presented positive results even during the Covid-19 pandemic period. Of the 36 inaugurations of works accomplished, 23 occurred between March and June. “Despite the pandemic, planning remained solid,” he said.

The Minister said the maintenance and operation of the country’s logistics supply was the most important factor: “President [Jair Bolsonaro] has directed us to ensure logistics above all. Perhaps it has to be one of the great victories in the period. A silent victory, but quite important.”

Freitas said the federal government ensured a record crop flow, and that the country was the only one in the crisis to preserve a surplus in its trade balance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Regarding the works, he said the National Transport Infrastructure Department (DNIT), built nearly 127 kilometers of divided highways, 88.5 kilometers of paved roads, and 110.6 kilometers of new resurfacing. In addition, the Ministry delivered the new departures hall at Navegantes Airport (Santa Catarina); the renovation and extension of the passenger terminal at Foz do Iguaçu International Airport (Paraná); the small ports in Parintins (Amazonas), Coari (Amazonas) and Turiaçu (Maranhão), among other achievements.

Tarcísio also said the half-yearly balance has been a traditional practice at the Ministry of Infrastructure and that it represents the federal government’s commitment and duty to report, “which has been established from the beginning by the Jair Bolsonaro government,” according to him.

The Minister said he expects to deliver 33 works and hold 14 auctions: three for concessions and 11 port leases in the second half of 2020. Two other railroad concession renewals are expected to be completed between July and December.

The portfolio is working to publish 16 more bid notices for infrastructure assets ready to be privatized.

Source: Gazeta Brasil