After a government auction of concession rights to operate the Sao Goncalo de Amarante Airport (RN) in Brazil, the company responsible for its operation, has requested a renegotiation of the PPP contract.

The group Inframérica has submitted to the Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) a request for economic and financial rebalancing of the concession which totaled BRL1.002 billion (US$310 million).

Inframérica is a 50-50 joint venture between Corporación América and Engevix subsidiary Infravix Empreendimentos.

The operator lists 21 points that would have radically changed the original premises of the bid and threaten business continuity. However, ANAC recently said the issues are part of the business risks.

Inframérica won the concession to construct and manage the new airport for Natal in August 2011. Inframerica submitted the winning and highest bid of US$106.4 million, considerably higher than the minimum bid of BRL51.7 million (US$16 million). 

If renegotiation of the contract is totally or partially rejected by ANAC, Inframérica intends to take their demand to local courts, according to sources.

The São Gonçalo de Amarante concession expires in 2039.

Inframerica also secured the 25-year concession to manage Brasilia’s Juscelino Kubitschek Airport in February 2012.