Country: Portugal
Capital: Lisbon
Language: Portuguese
Currency: Euro
Number of Members (set/2011): 239

Odebrecht’s History in the Country:

Several emblematic projects have been completed in Portugal since Odebrecht acquired Bento Pedroso Construções (BPC) in 1988. The arrival to the country meant the Organization’s entry into Europe, a mature and competitive market.

Since then, Odebrecht-Bento Pedroso Construções has continued to contribute decisively to modernizing the country’s infrastructure by helping build major developments such as:

• Expansion of the National 1 Expressway, which connects Lisbon to Porto;
• Aveiro-Mamodeiro Highway;
• Infante Dom Henrique Highway in the region of Algarve;
• Gare do Oriente, a train, subway and bus station complex;
• Access to the city of Coimbra and access viaduct to the Açude de Coimbra Bridge.

During the second half of the 1990s, the company began working on one of the most important European developments of the decade: the construction of the second bridge over the Tejo River in Lisbon called the Vasco da Gama Bridge.

The construction of a stretch of the new Lisbon subway lines in 1992 was also emblematic. The following year, contracted by the same client (Metropolitano de Lisboa), Odebrecht assumed the mission of opening the subway’s Red Line, whose course would traverse areas full of century-old buildings and would require a high level of environmental control. Successfully completed in August 2009, the project modernized the Alameda and São Sebastião stations and connected them with other new ones: São Sebastião II and Saldanha.

During the second half of 2009, the expansion of the subway network continued into the country’s Northern region in a development that involved investments of 1.12 billion Euros in the city of Porto until 2017. Together with the construction companies Lena and Abrantina, Odebrecht-Bento Pedroso Construções is responsible for extending the Porto Subway Yellow Line, creating a new station and expanding the existing one, called the D. João II Station.

The project is designed to guarantee fast access to the Historic Downtown area, the São Bento Train Station and the city's Central Hospital.

Development Integrated with Traditions

Another important project in the Odebrecht-Bento Pedroso Construções portfolio is the finalization of a railroad that the Portuguese people have awaited for 42 years. It is the last stretch of the Lisbon Interior Regional Circular (CRIL) Route, 4-km road from Buraca to Pontinha that should cut traffic on Lisbon’s most congested urban streets by 75%.

In addition to the acoustic barriers placed along its entire course, the street earned distinction for having preserved and integrated the Águas Livres and Francesas aqueducts, considered two of Portugal’s historical and archeological monuments.

Still in the highway segment, the consortium of which the company is part will be responsible for designing, building, exploring and conserving the Baixo Tejo Expressway for a 30-year period. The development will connect sites located in the Lisbon Metropolitan Zone and, based on estimates provided by the Portuguese Government, will benefit over 700,000 people. The bid presented in 2009 was chosen over those from five other competing consortiums in a process involving some 50 companies.

More Energy and Connection with Europe

Near the city of Torre de Moncorvo in the district of Bragança, located in the country’s Northeastern region, Odebrecht is involved in a strategic project for the Portuguese energy sector.

The construction of reversible dams and other civil projects related to the Baixo Sabor River Hydroelectric Facility (AHE) promise to minimize the energy dependence on other countries, storing a large quantity of water for the periods of highest consumption and generating energy starting during the second half of 2014. Activities such as the irrigation of lands, tourism and the practice of water sports will also be promoted with the project.

The first stretch of the bullet train that will connect Lisbon to Madrid in Spain is another one of the company’s recent achievements. In January 2010, the Elos consortium, of which Odebrecht is part, earned the construction, financing, maintenance and concession rights for this project for a 40-year period, including the installation of the new Évora Station. The stretch in question (Poceirão-Caia) will extend 170 km as part of a high-speed line and is set to be completed by the end of 2013.