By PortalPortuario Editorial Staff
In pursuit of qualifying concession projects and stimulating decarbonization, the Ministry of Transport launched the Sustainability Program for Highway and Railway Infrastructure (PSI). The program has the potential to generate up to R$ 21.5 billion in new investments and seeks to promote climate resilience practices and regulatory innovation in the country’s highway and railway concessions.
“It is essential to allocate between 1% and 2.5% of project revenue to a resilient infrastructure, focused on the climate and energy transition. This makes us eligible for infrastructure funds. This agenda is strategic for attracting investors interested in Brazil and for ensuring projects incorporate this culture of responsibility across all government spheres,” stated the ministry’s executive secretary, George Santoro.
The PSI was conceived based on Ordinances No. /2024 and No. /2024, which link the issuance of infrastructure debentures to compliance with ESG parameters. The model allows concessionaires to allocate up to 2% of new revenues to sustainable investments, with the possibility of prior revenue rebalancing to guarantee the immediate start of projects.
Execution will be enabled within a regulatory sandbox environment, with a minimum duration of two years, which will allow for testing and refining regulatory instruments in a controlled setting. The program functions as a regulatory pilot project, offering legal security and predictability to participating concessionaires.
“We are facing a sector in full expansion, fundamental for Brazil’s growth. This is a lever to overcome the fallacy that development and environmental conservation cannot go hand in hand. They should, and can, advance together,” emphasized the director of the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), Felipe Queiroz.
During the PSI’s validity period, concessionaires must present investment plans that meet the 470 technical requirements defined by commissions composed of representatives from the federal government and the private sector. At the end, the results will be evaluated and adjusted according to the need for model improvement.
Furthermore, the program incorporates the Green Logistics Corridors project, which connects highways, railways, and ports in integrated sustainability plans. The action seeks to reduce emissions and increase climate resilience in transport infrastructures through coordinated measures between different modes.
