04.09.2025 | ABIFER | Notícias do Mercado
Fonte: BNAmericas Data: 03/09/2025
Brazil’s federal government has authorized 9.78 billion (bn) reais (US$1.8 billion) in financing for urban mobility projects in several states under the so called growth acceleration program, or PAC.
The funds include 6.05bn reais for construction works and 3.73bn reais for the acquisition of vehicles and equipment.
“The goal of the selected proposals is to improve public transport infrastructure in medium and large cities, benefiting BRT systems, metro lines, commuter trains, light rail (VLT), bus corridors, operational centers, terminals, passenger stations, shelters and bike paths,” the federal government said in a statement.
Part of the funds will be used to finance electric buses, charging equipment, Euro 6 vehicles for BRT and conventional systems and rolling stock for rail systems.
The largest allocations will go to projects in the states of Paraná, Minas Gerais and Bahia.
Paraná secured 2.2bn reais for a light rail project that will connect Curitiba, state capital, to Afonso Pena airport, in São José dos Pinhais municipality.
The state government and the municipalities of Curitiba and São José dos Pinhais are currently conducting implementation studies. The exact length of the system and other details have not yet been disclosed.
Meanwhile, the federal government will provide 1.02bn reais to support the expansion of line 1 of the Belo Horizonte metro in Minas Gerais. The section is operated by Metrô BH, controlled by Comporte Participações, which won the privatization auction of CBTU in 2022.
Another significant amount, 574.6mn reais, has been approved for Bahia state capital, Salvador, light rail project.
Construction began in 2023 and according to Bahia state transport company, CTB, 29.86% of the works have been completed. The system will have more than 40km of tracks and 42 stops, and is expected to serve 172,000 passengers per day.
Although the urban mobility investments were welcomed by stakeholders, some players expressed concerns.
“We are still waiting for these funds to translate into actual orders for the local industry. At the moment, there is very strong pressure from Chinese companies, which have been winning a series of tenders in Brazil’s rail sector, since they enjoy a significant competitive advantage, as many operate abroad, in China, and benefit from broad tax isonomy,” Vicente Abate, president of railway industry association Abifer, told BNamericas.
“We have been advocating, together with local governments, that Chinese companies manufacture in Brazil the equipment required for Brazilian projects, so that they face the same tax and cost conditions as the local industry. We are not asking for advantages, only for equal conditions to compete with Chinese companies,” he added.
