Uruguay Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in uruguay, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Infrastructure Projects
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Overview

Uruguay offers an enticing landscape for savvy investors seeking promising opportunities in infrastructure development.  Uruguay’s proactive approach to nurturing foreign investment and its transparent business environment make it an ideal destination for those looking to participate in the growth of this dynamic nation.

The Government of Uruguay announced that the Ministry of Transport and Public Works was planning to invest $329 million in 2023 and $260 million in 2024.  Almost 20 percent of these investments will be directed to the development and improvement of national transportation infrastructure.  In terms of infrastructure financing, multilateral development banks such as the IDB, the World Bank, and Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) are active in supporting Uruguay’s infrastructure development.  Uruguay became the second Latin American country to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and has joined the New Development Bank established by the BRICS.

For information on infrastructure projects please contact: CS Uruguay.

Leading Sub-Sector

Ports

The Uruguayan government extended the concession for operation of the sea container terminal, Cuenca del Plata, in the Montevideo Port until 2080 to Belgian company, Katoen Natie.  Katoen Natie later announced a $460 million investment for the expansion and modernization of the terminal which will increase its footprint, improve IT, security, and infrastructure.  With these improvements, Montevideo is on track to becoming the first sustainable port terminal in South America delivering green electricity to all docked ships.  The new infrastructure includes three berths, 17 portico cranes, and cold ironing technologies.

In 2021, the Argentinian company, PTP Group, announced the construction and operation of an agro-industrial port complex in Punta Arenal, Soriano.  The project will enhance the role of Uruguay as a transshipment point facilitating movement through the Paraná-Paraguay waterway.  This project would represent an investment of $80 million and manage 5,000 tons of breakbulk cargo per year.  Uruguay’s National Port Administration approved the concession of the Capurro commercial fishing terminal in the Port of Montevideo.  This concession includes 10 hectares of land area where the concessionaire provides commercial fishing logistics, port activities, dredging, ship repairs, transshipment, and warehousing.  The tender for this concession came out in second quarter of 2022 and the award is expected in the second half of the year.

The government of Uruguay is evaluating a private initiative for the development of a passenger port terminal at Mauá dam.  This terminal would replace the current one located at the Port of Montevideo.  The intent is to separate the passenger terminal from cargo activity that also takes place in the port of Montevideo.  The first stage includes plans to build a ferry terminal, to be followed by the construction of a cruise ship terminal in the second phase of this 30-year concession.  The estimated cost of the project is $400 million, and the Government will hold an international tender as part of the process.

Hydroelectric Facilities

In May 2019, Uruguay announced a plan to modernize and renovate the binational Salto Grande Dam, shared between Uruguay and Argentina.  This three-stage project will be developed over the next 30 years.  In addition to the Salto Grande renovation project, state-owned enterprise UTE launched a modernization project for the Baygorria Dam.  The Baygorria Dam was built in 1960 and will need an estimated investment of $50 million to complete the renovation work. 

Water Treatment

The Government of Uruguay announced a $500 million USD investment for the design and development of a nation-wide sanitation project, to be completed over a period of four years.  The project will be financed through user connection fees.  Included in this project includes: the design and construction of 54 new water treatment plants; improvement of 40 existing water treatment plants; the installation of 3,472 km of sewer infrastructure; and the construction of 246,973 new home connections.

To supply drinking water to Montevideo, the government awarded a project presented by a local consortium for a $289 million new water treatment plant to use the Río de la Plata as a water intake source.  This project would offer a second source of water to supply Montevideo, Canelones, and San Jose Departments and provide redundancy to the system.  The plan includes a water treatment plant and 80 kilometers of pipeline that will connect the Montevideo system to this second source of water. 

Potable water resource management is an emerging issue.  In 2013 and again in early 2015 isolated incidents of cyanobacteria-tainted water highlighted the need for urgent government investments in upgrading and monitoring water quality.  The widespread appearance of cyanobacteria subsequently negatively affected Uruguay’s 2018-19 tourist season.

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