New Minister Of Infrastructure Promises A Wave Of Privatizations

Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas said that all airports currently managed by the government would be sold to the private sector

Brasília

The ministers of Infrastructure, Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas, and Mining and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, were sworn in office on Wednesday (2nd) while making a public commitment to going ahead with plans inherited from the Temer administration.

Facing a constrained budget, both ministers said that they want to increase discussions and partnerships with the private sector to make an audacious plan to grant concessions and privatize many national companies and assets. 

The federal auctions scheduled for the first quarter of 2019 are expected to bring at least US$ 1.7 billion (R$ 6.5 billion).

New Minister of Infrastructure Tarcisio Gomes de Freitas - AFP

Freitas announced several public biddings for 12 airports (currently managed by state company Infraero), highways, railways, and port terminals.

"We will do public biddings on everything that can be privatized," he said. "We will see how the auctions for the three airport lots will go, and if they work out, we will announce a new round. We will also make a round of biddings of pre-salt oil fields, and if they also yield good results, we will also announce another round."

The minister also said that he intends to privatize all airports currently managed by Infraero.

Bento Albuquerque also made investors very happy. The Minister of Mining and Energy affirmed his commitment to go ahead with the privatization of electric utilities company Eletrobrás.  The promise gained new credibility with the information that Eletrobrás' current president, Wilson Ferreira Junior, will continue to lead the company.

Translated by NATASHA MADOV

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