Renan Filho (Transportation) says that the failure of the binational auction is due to the Argentine rules and the economic crisis of the neighboring country
The Minister of , (MDB), said on Monday (28.br.2025) that the government seeks alternatives to enable a new auction of the São Borja International Bridge – Santo Tomé, which connects Brazil to Argentina.
In conversation with journalists during the highway concession signing event in Paraná, Renan pointed out the main reasons that, he said, led to the failure of the previous attempt, held earlier this month.
“This is a different auction because it is binational. Argentina prevents the winning company from sending profits out of the country, which limits competition to Argentine companies.”said the minister.
As it is a shared management, the necessary adjustments will have to be defined by agreement between the two governments. Until the concession is auctioned, the bridge will continue to be provisionally operated by a company with a precarious contract.
Renan Filho also pointed out that the Argentine economic context weighed on the lack of stakeholders. “Argentina has a hard time having its own investment in its country, unlike in Brazil, where we have no empty auctions. Since the company’s headquarters, by bilateral agreement, would be in Argentina, foreign exchange restrictions discouraged investors.”he explained.
The project on the agenda foresees US $ 99 million in contributions and a concession for 25 years. The bridge is considered strategic: it is 15.62 kilometers long and accounts for about 23% of trade between Brazil and Argentina, and almost 40% of the commercial current between Brazil and Chile.
Canceled twice
On January 7, 2025, Minister Walton Alencar Rodrigues, from (Federal Court of Auditors), The expected event for the same day after indicating 3 irregularities in the announcement:
Insufficient technical qualification criteria: The notice allows bidders to prove technical experience alternatively, without requiring competence in management of highways or customs enclosures. According to TCU, this flexibility can compromise the operational capacity of the future dealership.
Divergences in traffic data: The publication alleges an 18% discrepancy between traffic data on the latest bridge and those used in the economic and financial modeling of the notice. These data underlie the formulation of proposals by interested companies, and inconsistencies can distort the results.
Lack of reopening of the deadline for proposals: After changes in the announcement, the deadline for submission of proposals was not reopened, violating art. 55 of the Bidding and Administrative Contracts Law (PDF – 2 MB). This measure aims to ensure equal conditions between participants.
The auction was rescheduled for April 4. However, Proposal was made.
