Road and rail connectivity has emerged as one of the main challenges in supporting the growth of mining in Salta and the region. The corridor, which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through four countries, crosses more than 800 kilometers of provincial territory and is positioned as a key route for mining exports from Northwestern Argentina.
By Panorama Minero
The Government of the Province of Salta and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) presented the study “Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor: Opportunities and Challenges for Territorial Development” during an event aimed at analyzing the impact of regional integration on northern Argentina and South America, with special emphasis on infrastructure, logistics, and connectivity related to productive and mining growth.
The event brought together provincial officials, mayors, representatives of business chambers, technical organizations, and international specialists. Participants included Salta’s Minister of Production and Mining, Ignacio Lupión; Minister of Economy and Public Services, Roberto Dib Ashur; Coordinator of Political Relations and Planning of the Governor’s Office, Ricardo Villada; and ECLAC Director in Argentina, Romain Zivy.
The Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor integrates territories in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Brazil through a network of highways and railway connections linking Atlantic and Pacific ports. In Salta, the corridor crosses more than 800 kilometers of provincial territory and is primarily structured around National Route 51 and the C-14 railway branch, infrastructure considered strategic for transporting mining exports from the Puna region to Chilean Pacific ports.
During the opening session, Minister Lupión noted that Salta is the Argentine province with the largest territorial extension crossed by the corridor and emphasized its role in regional logistics integration.
In this context, provincial authorities highlighted that the growth of mining activity has increased the need for road and rail infrastructure projects to ensure the transportation of supplies, equipment, and mineral production. National Route 51 constitutes one of the main access corridors to the Salta Puna and connects the provincial capital with San Antonio de los Cobres and the Sico Pass on the Chilean border.
Minister Dib Ashur stated that the technical studies prepared by international organizations are being used to support efforts to secure external financing for infrastructure projects related to the corridor. Among the initiatives currently underway, the Province is promoting agreements with multilateral institutions to finance various sections of National Route 51, considered a priority for mining logistics and the development of the bioceanic corridor.
In April of this year, the Government of Salta confirmed progress in negotiations with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to finance approximately US$100 million in works on National Route 51. The projects include paving, route improvements, and strengthening road infrastructure along sections used by mining freight transport.
The corridor also includes the reactivation and modernization of the C-14 freight railway system, integrated into the Belgrano Railway network. This line connects Northwestern Argentina with Pacific ports through the Socompa Pass and forms part of the historic infrastructure used for mining transportation in the Andean region.
During the event organized jointly with ECLAC, Ricardo Villada, Coordinator of Political Relations and Planning, reviewed the historical background of regional integration projects promoted from northern Argentina and highlighted the participation of municipalities, business chambers, and technical organizations in the corridor’s planning process.
The study presented by ECLAC analyzed opportunities and challenges associated with territorial development, mining growth, the energy transition, and new international logistics dynamics. It also addressed issues related to foreign trade, strategic infrastructure, and regional coordination among the provinces and countries involved in the corridor.
