The International Finance corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, is mulling financing PPP projects in Uruguay.

The Government of Uruguay, through the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MTOP) is currently soliciting tender for private investors relating to participation in a series of PPP projects. According to a letter from the IFC, it would be interested in exploring providing financial alternatives to the PPP projects through appropriate financing  or guarantee facilities.

In early 2016, MTOP along with the state rail administrator (AFE) announced the tender process for a rail rehabilitation PPP project, which involves the rehabilitation of a 141 km freight rail line between the cities of Fray Bentos (Río Negro) and Algorta (Río Negro).

Previously, in late 2015, MTOP announced tender processes for the following road PPP projects: 

• Upgrade, development, operation and maintenance of the routes 12, 54, 55 and 57 and the Carmelo bypass
• Upgrade, development, operation and maintenance of the routes 9 and 15.

Both projects will use an availability-payment structure, with the concessionaire being paid by the adequate state of the routes during the operation period.

In a press conference hold by the Ministry of Transport in mid December 2015, Mr. Rossi also announced the schedule for four other road PPP contracts:

• Western stretch of Route 14 up to Sarandí del Yí - 17 March 2016
• Western stretch of Route 26 up to Tacuarembó - 17 March 2016
• Eastern stretch of Route 14 from Sarandí Yí to Rocha - 16 July 2016
• Route 6 Motevideo exit through Avenida de las Instrucciones - 16 July 2016

The government of Uruguay has plans to improve the country's road system. It is expected that several projects involving about 4,270 km of roads will be carried out.

In October 2015, we reported that a Sacyr-led team was selected as the preferred bidder to develop three sections of the route 21 and 24 through a PPP model. The 179 km road project will involve the development of the section 2 of the route 21 and the sections 2 and 3 of the route 24.