A few weeks ago, Alberto Fernández, the president of Argentina has indicated his intention to resume talks with his Chilean counterpart for revitalizing the Agua Negra Tunnel project between the two countries.

The Agua Negra tunnel project first proposed by the then-presidents Presidents Cristina Fernandez and Michelle Bachelet of Chile and Argentina in 2009 will be the first bi-national project between two countries. It is going to be financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

According to a news published at Chile's Diario la region de Coquimbo, Chile's Ministry of Public Works is not equally enthusiastic about the Agua Negra Tunnel project. Ministerial Secretary Pablo Herman is quoted saying "Generating these expectations is not right, we must reactivate the economy through local development," seemingly in a direct answer to Argentinian president.

Chile side says the tunnel proposal is still in very early phases and there are many undefined things. Also added is that there are no right economic conditions or specifications to tender such a project yet. Ministerial Secretary thinks that it is better to stimulate the economy via local development rather than tendering a big tunnel and throwing the money out of the country to China's contractors.

http://www.diariolaregion.cl/mop-pone-panos-frios-a-tunel-agua-negra/