New PAC foresees works in strategic axes

State governments have already sent lists of priority works and the program is expected to be launched by the end of April.

The Brazilian government announced earlier this week the new infrastructure investment plan, replacing the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC). The projects will focus on six strategic axes: transport; social infrastructure; digital inclusion and connectivity; urban infrastructure; water for all, and energy transition.

According to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, long-term planning will be carried out to bring back the role of the public sector as an inducer of strategic investments in infrastructure. State governments have already sent their lists of priority works, and ministries are identifying other structural investments. The forecast is that the new program will be launched by the end of April.

In terms of the energy transition, the government should launch public notices for contracting solar and wind energy and auctions for new transmission lines, in order to make the implementation of these clean energy parks faster and more attractive. The country will not miss the opportunity to become a global power in green hydrogen, Lula pointed out. According to him, Petrobras will finance research into new renewable fuels and, at the same time, will resume investments in expanding Transpetro’s fleet of ships.

In transport, railroads, highways, waterways and ports will once again be considered in a structuring way, reducing the cost of transporting agricultural production. In addition, concessions for highways and airports that were unbalanced will be considered, resuming the planned investments, highlighted Lula.

In planning to distribute water to everyone, one of the focuses will be the resumption of the São Francisco River integration project.

Works to prevent landslides

According to the president, works will be carried out to prevent disasters caused by floods and landslides and, with the new sanitation framework, the government wants to unlock and attract R$ 120 billion in public and private investments to universalize water and sewage services by 2033.

Regarding the Minha Casa, Minha Vida Program, although the low-income population is priority, the Brazilian government says that it is also necessary to create a housing program to assist lower-middle-class people, with income between three and four salaries.

By: Santelmo Camilo