Chinese and European enterprises bid for two major highway concession projects in Chile

      According to a report by Chile's El Mercurio on July 29, the second round of bidding for the concession rights of two major highways in Chile has attracted interest from multiple Chinese and European enterprises, with the total combined investment of the two highways exceeding 2 billion US dollars. The first project is Highway 57 connecting Santiago, Colina and Los Andes, with an investment of approximately 1.03 billion US dollars. 15 enterprises have purchased the bidding documents, including China Harbour Engineering, China Road and Bridge Corporation, as well as enterprises from Spain, Germany, Italy and other countries. The original bid submission deadline scheduled for July 21 has been postponed to August 12. The second project is the section of Highway 5 from Collipulli to Temuco in the Araucanía Region, with an investment of about 1.15 billion US dollars. Enterprises including China Road and Bridge Corporation and China Railway Construction Corporation have purchased the bidding documents, and the original bid deadline scheduled for August 11 has been postponed while no new specific date has been announced. The Ministry of Public Works noted that Highway 57 is more attractive as it links the Metropolitan Region and border ports, and undertakes the traffic functions of the northern urban area of Santiago, but emphasized that purchasing the bidding documents does not mean the enterprises will ultimately participate in the bidding. The project is planned to start construction in 2031 and be completed in 2035. The new contract will introduce an electronic toll collection system that charges by driving mileage, and the tolls are expected to be about 5% lower than the current level. (Source: Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Chile)