China adds road concession to Chile’s infrastructure portfolio

Photo: China National Highway 107 -01.jpg. By: Travieso94. Source. Creative commons.

The Chilean government awarded China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) the second concession for the Chillán-Collipulli section of Route 5, for an investment of close to US$600 million, further expanding China’s presence in the infrastructure sector in the South American country. The concession includes the construction of a four-lane access road, the widening of 18 km of the existing road, the replacement of 14 bridges, and the repair of 48 others. CRCC was also awarded a US$851 million contract for the Talca-Chillán section of the same road in 2021, so the company will work on an uninterrupted 364 km section of Chile’s main north-south highway. China’s infrastructure portfolio in Chile also includes the construction of new hospitals in Cauquenes, Parral, and Constitución in the Maule Region, the construction of the Las Palmas reservoir in the Valparaíso Region and a 6.6 km section of the Santiago metro line No. 7.

Since the award of the first infrastructure concession to CRCC in 2021, Chinese companies have expanded their presence in Chile’s infrastructure sector, not only in construction works, but also in rolling stock contracts. CRCC also began operating the Talca-Chillán section of Route 5 through its subsidiary in March 2021 under a 32-year contract. The second concession award is the first infrastructure concession awarded since Gabriel Boric assumed the presidency last March. With scarce resources and a strong demand for infrastructure from local governments, China’s presence in Chile’s infrastructure has emerged as a major issue for the Chilean economy.

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BNamericas.com. BNamericas. (2023, Febrero 13). China suma concesión vial de US$600mn a cart…