Finance & Funding

A major programme of PPP road construction concession contracts is due for Colombia. This has been given the go ahead by Colombia's National Council for Economic and Social Policy (Conpes). The programme is for a second round of 4G highway concessions through PPPs, worth up to US$16.5 billion in all, with 10 highway projects to be built. These are: the Autopista Mar 1; Autopista Mar 2; Neiva-Girardot; Villavicencio-Yopal; Rumichaca-Pasto; Puerta de Hierro-Palmar de Varela-Cruz del Viso; Santana-Mocoa-Neiva/

The authorities in Uzbekistan have plans in hand to construct some 423km of roads in 2015. Funding for a considerable portion of the construction work will come in the shape of loans. The Asian Development Bank is one of the funding sources and is providing loans being sued for financing 85km of the work required. The country has budgeted around US$1.17 billion for purchasing of road building equipment, an increase of 35% from the previous year.

Cat Financial Services, the finance arm of Caterpillar Inc., reported third-quarter 2014 revenues of US$743 million, an increase of $44 million, or 6%, compared with the third quarter of 2013.

In the Philippines the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has authorised 12 public-private partnership (PPP) and other infrastructure projects. However the US$473.5 million North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway Connector Road project has still to be discussed by NEDA. The board gave its authorisation for the $28.3 million Sen Gil Puyat Avenue-Makati Avenue-Paseo de Roxas vehicles underpass project. The $89.5 million Metro Manila Interchange Construction Project Phase 6 also secured a

In Ethiopia the construction of two new road links will be carried out by Chinese and Spanish contractors. The Ethiopia Roads Authority (ERA) awarded a contract worth close to US$48 million to Hunan Huanda Road and Bridge Corporation of China to build a 48.3km road in the south of the country. The work will take 29 months to complete. Two Spanish firms meanwhile will work together to carry out a $60.6 million contract in Ethiopia’s Oromia State. This project is for a 63km road connecting Ambo with Walliso.

The Algerian Ministry for Public Works plans for tolling to commence on the East-West Highway before the end of 2015. The charges will be linked to the maintenance and management costs of the link. A study is underway providing the necessary information required to outline the concession package. Meanwhile the package for the 84km section connecting Annaba with the Tunisian border via the El-Tarf province is being allocated to two national groupings. Three firms are carrying out necessary repairs to secti

Morocco’s Ministry for Infrastructure and Transport is developing a new national road plan. The first stage is to carry out a study into the country’s transport needs. This will be an extension of the 2035 road plan. At present, Morocco has 51,000km of roads, including 41,431km of surfaced roads and 727km of expressways. However there is concern that the country’s road network is not adequate for Morocco’s needs and that government funding will be insufficient to carry out the work required. The Ministry fo

A new transport plan is being drawn up in the Philippines in a bid to deal with the country’s frequent traffic delays. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has commissioned the World Bank to set out a country-wide infrastructure roadmap. This plan is called the 'Philippine Transport Infrastructure Development' by the World Bank is in broadly in line with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)'s 'Dream Plan' for the country. Both outline sustainable development for Manila by 2030

Further problems surround the project to construct Algeria’s East-West Highway. Much of the route is complete, however a number of sections have faced delays with disputes having developed between contractors and the Algerian Government, which is overseeing the project. This latest development has seen the Algerian Ministry for Public Works announcing that the Japanese firm Cojaal has lost its contract to construct the remaining 84km of the eastern section of the East-West highway. It is not clear at presen

A major highway project in Nicaragua is coming closer to fruition. The new link would cross the country, connecting its Caribbean and Pacific Ocean coasts. The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) has been called upon to approve a US$150 million loan at the end of October 2014 to part finance the scheme. Meanwhile funds worth $39 million have already been approved for the Rio Blanco-Mulukuku section of this road, which has been put out to tender. The $150 million CABEI loan would be put to