Brazil seeks European partners for US$1bn underwater tunnel

Federal officials and representatives of São Paulo state are touring Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway to drum up interest in a public-private partnership to build the 6bn-real (US$1.03bn) tunnel between the cities of Santos and Guarujá.

"This roadshow is taking place in Europe because this is Brazil's first underwater road tunnel project, and Brazilian engineering companies don't yet have the expertise needed to carry it out. It will be necessary to attract international companies that already have experience in this type of project," a representative of a foreign firm that is evaluating the contract told BNamericas. 

"That's why the bidding process will likely involve either consortiums made up exclusively of international firms, or Brazilian-led consortiums that will almost certainly need to include at least one foreign partner," the source added, requesting anonymity.

The auction is planned for August 1. 

Around 870m of the 1.5km tunnel will be submerged. It will have six lanes plus a light rail link, in addition to access for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Santos-Guarujá underwater tunnel is a joint initiative between São Paulo state and the ports and airports ministry, with participation from the state transport agency Artesp, national waterway transport agency Antaq and Santos port opertor SPA.

"Strategic meetings are scheduled with executives from leading mobility and engineering companies, including Ballast Nedam, TEC Tunnel, Immontec, Ruter, LNS, Sweco, DFDS, Maersk and Femern," a São Paulo state press release said.

Separately, on Monday, ports and airports minister Silvio Costa Filho presented the project to stakeholders in Portugal, including representatives of construction firm Mota-Engil.