Strategic megaprojects
Introduction
The Central Bioceanic Railway Corridor (CFBC) or Bioceanic Train is a railway project that plans to link the countries of Peru and Brazil. This would connect the port of Santos, Brazil (Atlantic Ocean), with the Chancay Megaport in Peru (Pacific Ocean).
It would unite two South American countries with their respective South American Megaports that are Bioceanic in nature. Its cost is approximately thirty billion dollars.[1][2].
Project
The project was born in Bolivia in 2013, inspired by the Trans-Siberian Railway and the TrasAndino. President Evo Morales together with his cabinet spoke with the president of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, about the possibility of building a railway to link the Atlantic with the Pacific between Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. The Chinese president requested a pre-feasibility study for 2014.[3].
The Spanish narrow gauge railway company, FEVE, granted a loan to the Bolivian government for interconnection and technical unit studies.[4] The first process of studies is developed by Spanish, French and Bolivian consulting firms, which would be delivered in June 2014.[5] In August 2014, a mission from Bolivia seeks financing from the Chinese government.[6][7]During the Summit of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) carried out in December, the project was prioritized.[8].
The project includes four strategic studies: the basic engineering design, the market study, the strategic study and the environmental study.[9] The four studies would be ready until December 31.[10].
According to the Minister of Public Works, Services and Housing, Vladimir Sánchez, the first phase is to build the road according to the characteristics; The second is to make an electric train, and a third phase is to make it have a double track. The project seeks to guide 95% of Bolivia's trade flow towards southern Peru, as well as integration towards Brazil.[11] During the II Peru - Bolivia Ministerial Cabinet[12] (November 2016), one of the topics to be discussed was the materialization of the bioceanic train, in addition to being able to export and import with much greater ease. Evo Morales assures that the project is favorable for Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay.
In July 2022, the Ministers of Works and Transportation of Bolivia, Brazil, Peru and Paraguay met to determine the progress itself, which is at 70%.