Argentina and Chile push $9.6 bn bioceanic rail corridor linking Mendoza to the Pacific

Chile's Beler S.A. and Singapore's International Nusantara Investment are advancing a $9.6 billion bioceanic rail corridor that would reconnect Mendoza in Argentina with the Pacific coast of Chile. The plan features a 54‑km underground tunnel between Uspallata and Los Andes, a 420‑km double‑track electrified line, a deep‑water port at La Ligua and a multimodal freight hub at Longotoma. Proponents say the corridor could transport cargo at roughly US$95 per tonne—significantly cheaper than the Panama Canal route—facilitating exports of soy, corn and wheat from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay to Asian markets. The project also aims to use renewable energy and waste‑to‑energy systems to power operations. Currently in a preliminary evaluation stage, the consortium is seeking institutional support from both sides of the Andes and is exploring mechanisms under the 2009 Treaty of Maipú. If authorized, construction could be completed in three to four years, reviving the historic Trasandino railway that ceased operations 42 years ago.