The national government, through the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI), received an offer to participate in the award process of the APP Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems of the Canal de Dique, a project that is part of the Bicentennial Concessions program or 5G projects.
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The person interested in developing the works in this environmental megaproject, which is a pioneer in Latin America and will have investments for the $3.1 billion order (work-operation and maintenance), is the Spanish firm Sacyr Concessions Colombia S.A.S.
“This project seeks to settle a historical debt that we had with the inhabitants who reside in the area of influence of the project, because in addition to rescuing systems that were in constant degradation, we are going to mitigate the impacts in the event of probable floods. It is, without a doubt, a megaproject that will change the face of the Colombian Caribbean”, indicated the Minister of Transport, Ángela María Orozco.
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The presentation of offers or closing of the term of the public bidding is given lAfter formalizing 16 prior consultation processes with communities surrounding the area of influence of the project, but in addition to carrying out the respective procedures before national entities, including: the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit and the National Planning Department-DNP, which approved and guaranteed the resources for the execution of the works.
The Canal del Dique megaproject is an iinitiative that has been talked about for more than 50 years in the country and it was essential to benefit, among other things, the transport of merchandise through its waters to the Caribbean ports, but also because it represents a relief from the problems of sedimentation and flood risks that even more than 10 years ago caused an enormous tragedy in the Caribbean Coast leaving more than 100 thousand victims.
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In fact, the Government assures that with this initiative sediment transit control can be maintained between the canal and the bays of Cartagena and Barbacoas, the risk of flooding will also be mitigated by controlling the water levels in the canal.
“With this project we are strengthening the multimodal transport infrastructure in the country, since we will strengthen navigability through the canal, but we will also benefit 19 municipalities in three departments through which the project passes”, added the president of the ANI, Manuel Felipe Gutiérrez.
After the presentation of offers, the ANI, the entity in charge of the project, will the study of contractual requirements to complete the award stage, which is estimated for August 4, 2022.
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