López Obrador Accuses Spanish Company of Corruption

President López Obrador accused Spanish company Copasa of being connected to the corruption scandals that enveloped the Spanish monarchy last year, according to a report from La Política Online (LPO).  Copasa is one of the companies currently bidding for work in the northern half of the Mayan Train’s fifth segment. The president went on to say that this connection was part of a larger pattern of corruption that emerged during previous administrations, which would favor companies from Spain in the contracting of major infrastructure projects and energy services.  

Ready for more? Here’s the Week in Infrastructure!

Santa Lucia Inaugurates Runway 

The first runway for the Felipe Ángeles International Airport located in Santa Lucia has been inaugurated. President Lopez Obrador attended the event, along with Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, SEDENA leader Luis Cresencio Sandoval, SRE head Marcelo Ebrard and the governors of the State of Mexico, Hidalgo and Queretaro (Alfredo del Mazo, Omar Fayad and Francisco Domínguez Servién, respectively), among other political figures. The first plane to land was a Boeing 737-800, which was followed by the landing of four commercial aircraft from companies VivaAerobus, Aeromar, Volaris and Transportes Aéreos Regionales (TAR). Some media reports have called this inauguration a political showcase. Local legislator Jorge Triana called the event a “circus” and claimed that the runway in question already existed as part of the older military base that used to stand on the airport’s current location.

Initial Studies for Tulum Airport Ordered

SEDENA has requested US$11.8 million from SHCP for the pre-feasibility studies of the new civil and military airport in Tulum, Quintana Roo. The studies seek to analyze the economic and financial viability of the project. The project was also added to SHCP's investment project portfolio for 2021, including its cost-benefit analysis, economic viability studies, financial evaluation and obstacle survey. In addition, there is a master plan with topographic studies, engineering development for the control tower and a passenger terminal, along with waste management, social impact, archaeological rescue, legal viability and architectural planning for the terminal.

Surbana Jurong Delivers Transisthmic Master Plan 

Singapore-based Surbana Jurong, a global urban, industrial and infrastructure consulting firm, presented the final report of the Structural Plan and the Conceptual Master Plan of the Inter-Oceanic Transisthmic Corridor. Wong Heang Fine, CEO of Surbana Jurong, explained that the master plan seeks to guide and clarify the organization of the region in regards to infrastructure, transportation, land use and industrial potential. He also said that Surbana Jurong’s services will allow it to create a strong geographical growth plan, considering decentralization and diversification as important industrial development strategies.

New Rail Construction Norms Enacted

SCT has announced the publication of four new official norms that will update the safety and efficiency standards of Mexico’s rail operations. These will come into effect by the end of June 2021. They establish new minimum requirements for rail line construction and installation quality control, including type of rail lines to be used in projects and materials for construction. These standards will make rail traffic at higher speeds safer, with less maintenance and downtime. The new regulations were drafted and will be implemented by the Rail Transport Regulating Agency (ARTF), which has been working on updating the industry’s standards as part of its 2020 National Normalization Plan, which also calls for the allocation of funds for technological research and development in rail infrastructure, including air brake tests, wheel materials for passenger railcars and inspections of rail tankers carrying dangerous materials.