Shared-Use Infrastructure Along the World's Largest Iron Ore Operation: Lessons Learned from the Carajás Corridor

Abstract

From a government perspective, shared-use or open-access infrastructure arrangements can provide significant prospects for sustainable development. The shared use of infrastructure built by mining companies can spur and support additional mining projects and other economic activities and services to the benefit of surrounding communities and other third-party beneficiaries. From the viewpoint of a mining company, however, such arrangements pose risks to profitability and may, in some instances, benefit competitors. This study uses lessons learned from the shared-use arrangements along the Carajás railway corridor in Brazil to shed light on how to strike a balance between divergent private and public interests, and how countries may learn from this approach in order to increase the benefits of existing and future shared-use projects.