Government plan for railways attracts 20 groups even before announcement.

247 - The official announcement of the National Railway Plan, scheduled for February, is already generating behind-the-scenes activity. According to information obtained by CNN, several groups have approached the federal government to discuss the pipeline projects, which promise to boost Brazil's railway infrastructure. The plan covers a total of five thousand kilometers of new tracks, with an estimated investment of around R$ 100 billion.

Sources revealed to CNN In the coming days, government technicians will meet with twenty groups interested in opportunities in the sector. To facilitate these meetings, an office has been reserved at the headquarters of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) in São Paulo, where investors can discuss project prospects with those responsible for management.

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the growing market interest, government sources warn that the path to finalizing the proposals is long. "Between the initial contact and submitting a bid at the auction—when the company 'bids'—there are a series of steps to be completed," said the technicians. However, the complexity of the projects to be offered has generated optimism among government officials, who see the meetings with major operators as a positive sign. Among the investors are some of the country's largest transportation infrastructure companies, such as CCR, MRS, and Rumo. In addition, there is also interest from international groups, such as Concremat, now under Chinese control, and the Swiss Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), traditionally known for maritime transport, but which seeks to expand its operations in the rail sector.

The federal government is betting on partnerships with the private sector to make the projects economically viable. To attract investors, the federal government will need to participate in part of the investments. It is estimated that the federal contribution could vary between 20% and 30% of the necessary resources, depending on the specific project. This financing model should help make the ventures more attractive to the market.

Part of the funding will come from agreements to renegotiate concessions in the railway sector. The government has already reached agreements with major operators such as Rumo and MRS Logística, and, at the end of December, signed a commitment with Vale, which agreed to pay up to R$ 17 billion for the extension of the concessions for the Carajás Railway (EFC) and the Vitória-Minas Railway (EFVM).

The details of the project package are being finalized, with discussions still underway with the Civil House and the Ministry of Finance. The plan has already been presented to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who continues to closely monitor the negotiations.

The expectation now is that, with the official launch, the government will be able to attract a large number of investors to the railway sector, which could represent a significant advance for Brazil in terms of infrastructure and logistics, essential for the country's economic growth.