Chile's public works ministry (MOP) has defined a total of 10 strategic investment areas in the 2009 budget, MOP minister Sergio Bitar told local press on Friday.
These comprise quality of life, integration between Chile and the rest of the world, water management and food production, rural potable water (APR) and basic roads.
Also included are integration with neighboring countries, renewable energy and innovative technology, concessions, southern connectivity, the Chiloé plan and better connectivity to benefit indigenous communities, the minister said.
CONNECTIVITY
Projects to improve integration between Chile and the rest of the world include 4.73bn pesos (US$8.3mn) to be invested in maintenance for capital Santiago's Arturo Merino Benítez airport, and 700mn pesos in maintenance works in region II Antofagasta's Cerro Moreno airport.
To improve connectivity between Chile and neighboring countries, projects include repaving the Ruta 5 highway between region I and Bolivia, with an investment of 7bn pesos. Also, the rehabilitation of the Ruta 15-CH highway along the Huara Colchane stretch, also in region I, which will require 11.2bn pesos.
Works in region VII will include improvements along the Ruta 115-CH highway for 3.9bn pesos and improvements on the Paso Pehuenche international pass for 4.9bn pesos.
The country's southern connectivity plan will total 4.27bn pesos. For Chiloé there is an estimated US$600mn investment plan, while the connectivity plan to benefit indigenous communities is expected to receive 10.3bn pesos for regions VIII, IX, XIV and X.
The last three initiatives will also boost tourism and improve the inhabitants' quality of life.
If approved by congress, the budget will also cover the construction of a northern road access to southern city Osorno for 5.29bn pesos, and the 2.64bn-peso construction of the San Pedro bridge in the same city.
At the same time, a total of 125mn pesos is expected to be invested in basic roads throughout the country.
CONCESSIONS
The investment plan expects to boost concessions through the re-concessioning of the highway access to the Santiago airport, the concession of the Convento Viejo reservoir in region VI, the concession of the Ruta 5 Atacama highway's Vallenar-Huasco stretch and the concession of highway Ruta 160 along the Coronel Tres Pinos stretch, in region VIII.
Other concession initiatives to which part of the budget will be destined are the Ruta 66 highway - also known as Camino de la Fruta - in regions V, VI and the metropolitan region, the connectivity plan in regions X and XI, Puerto Montt-Chiloé-Palena and the concession program to improve, rehabilitate and maintain the road network in region IV.
WATER COLLECTION
Water collection initiatives include the construction of the Hondonada Río Viejo collection pipeline in the metropolitan region with an investment of 2.97bn pesos, and the construction of the rainwater drainage collection pipeline Phillipi Barrios Bajos in southern city Valdivia for 2.97bn pesos.
The construction of the rainwater collection system Estero Lobos Poniente, in region X, with an investment of 743mn pesos is also included.
WATER RESOURCES
Authorities will invest 475mn pesos to monitor glaciers and will carry out integrated studies on the Copiapó river basin. They also plan to monitor pollution on the Aconcagua, Maipo and Mataquito river basins.
IRRIGATION
Irrigation projects include the continuity of the construction of the Bato reservoir in region IV, which requires a total investment of 23.2bn pesos, and the construction of the Ancoa irrigation system, in region VII, for 15.6bn pesos.
The ministry will also launch the construction of the Chacrillas de Putaendo reservoir in region V with a budget of 431mn pesos.
RURAL POTABLE WATER
MOP set a 27.6bn-peso budget for rural potable water, almost doubling the 14.6bn pesos in 2008.
No comments:
Post a Comment