In Law No. 863 of January 26, 2017 the government approved the Preferential Buyer’s Credit Agreement signed with Eximbank for up to USD 362 million for financing the Project for Construction of the Central Tranche of the El Sillar Two-Lane Dual-Carriageway, located on the highway linking Cochabamba with Santa Cruz.
The agreement covers widening and improvement of the existing highway, converting it into a four-lane dual-carriageway, and includes a series of engineering structures involving construction of four bridges and two tube tunnels. The new highway will help cut travel time between these two major cities and reduce operating costs.
Additionally, with an investment of USD 95.7 million, the Bolivian government has announced construction of a solar energy plant in the department of Oruro, which in its initial phase will generate 50 megawatts of electrical energy.
The funding will include a loan from France for USD 65.5 million, a donation of over USD 10 million from the European Union, and the participation of the national electric utility (ENDE) for USD 19.5 million.
The chief benefits of construction of this solar project will include increasing electrical energy production, improving economic levels in the region, and reducing greenhouse gas emission, among others.
The project has the received approval of the funding under Supreme Decree No. 2672 of February 10, 2016, signed by the French Development Agency and the Bolivian Government.
The conditions require companies to submit proposals by March 31, 2017, in line with the agenda set by ENDE.
The government has guaranteed that this year it will invest USD 2.4 billion in oil and gas, in the context of its economic policy for the sector’s .
For more information on the tender see: www.ende.bo