Finance & Funding

China’s transport infrastructure expansion programme is continuing at a steady rate. This has been revealed with new figures from China’s Ministry of Transport. In the period from January 2018 to June 2018 US$190.9 billion was invested in transport infrastructure projects across China. However the focus has shifted slightly with an increase in funding for rural road projects of around 1.8% and a gain for expressway projects of 12.8%.

A South Korean contractor, GS Construction, looks set to build the new Selander Bridge in Tanzania’s capital, Dar es Salaam. The deal was signed between GS Construction and the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroad). The new bridge comes with a pricetag of some US$126.26 million and will take until 2021 to complete. The project includes the 1.4km bridge plus upgrades to up to 7km of connecting roads. Nearly 83% of the funding required for the project will be supplied by South Korean sources, with the

Ghana is looking to secure a major financing package from China for road infrastructure improvements. The intended funding deal will be in the form of a loan, which will be used to build new road links and upgrade existing routes. One of the key projects being prioritised is an upgrade to the route connecting Wa with Bulenga in the north of the country and close to the border with Burkina Faso.

India continues to develop its road network, with the country’s ambitious plans moving ahead. Contracts for 6,320km of road projects have so far been awarded by the current Indian Government. This is for the first phase of the programme and the work is worth a massive US$20.95 billion in all. However the entire programme of road development will cover some 84,000km of roads and will be worth an eye-popping $109.1 billion.

Ecuador is working on plans for the new South Crossing Bridge (SCB) spanning the Guayas River, to improve transport connections for the port of Guayaquil. The plans call for the SCB to be constructed in three sections, with the project expected to cost US$1.04 billion. The schedule calls for the link to be completed in 2022, with work starting in the third quarter of 2018. The project is being handled under 40-year concession deal that encompasses the bridge and highway links.

Land is being acquired for a major expressway project in India. In all 10,649 individual land sale arrangements have been made with 20,916 owners for the Nagpur-Mumbai expressway project. Buying the land has cost close to US$775 million so far, with around 86% of the land needed for the project having now been acquired. The deals have been handled by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).

Caterpillar reports strong financial performance for sales in the second quarter of 2018. The firm's sales and revenues hit US$14 billion for the period, compared with $11.3 billion in the second quarter of 2017, a 24%. Second-quarter 2018 profit/share of $2.82 was a second-quarter record. Profit/share was $1.35 in the second quarter of 2017. Adjusted profit per share in the second quarter of 2018 was $2.97, compared with second-quarter 2017 adjusted profit/share of $1.49.

The contracts for two major road projects have been awarded in Argentina. Both of the road contracts will be handled under the PPP model, having been awarded by the Argentine Government. Jose Cartellone Construcciones Civiles will handle the contract for a 780km stretch of the C road corridor, connecting capital Buenos Aires with Mendoza, close to the Chilean border. Meanwhile a consortium comprising Paolini, Vial Agro and INC will handle the contract for 706km of road for the A road corridor, which is loc

A major road infrastructure development is being put forward in South Australia. A 14km-long bridge is being proposed that would connect Kangaroo Island with the mainland. The bridge has an estimated pricetag of US$3.7 billion (A$5 billion). The proposals call for a PPP project, with tolls on the four lane bridge helping to pay for its construction. However with a population of under 5,000, there are questions as to whether there would be sufficient traffic between Kangaroo Island and the mainland to make t

After decades with no proper transport connections South Korea and North Korea will soon have new road and rail links. The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is drawing up plans to rebuild the cross border, transport connections between the two countries. Work looks set to commence in 2018 on rebuilding a 12km highway section, as well as a 105km stretch of rail. Officials from both countries will carry out inspections jointly on the transport links so as to determine the extent of t