WLG 2020 Fall eConference: Challenges for Infrastructure Projects in the Current Environment

Moderator:

Juan Manuel Mercant, Guyer & Regules - Uruguay

Panelists:

Jeremy Blackshaw, MinterEllison - Australia
Nath Curtis, Gowling WLG - England
Ian de Vaz, WongPartnership - Singapore
John Lennard, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg - Québec, Canada
Alejandro Perelsztein, Bruchou, Fernández Madero & Lombardi Abogados - Argentina

• While supply chain issues have impacted the ability to continue projects under construction, the challenge is not insurmountable.
• Many constructors and suppliers have attempted to call Force Majeure to get additional time and costs for projects. While there are a number of disputes on the market, there is a lot of goodwill and parties are resolving them outside of court to avoid additional delays. Future contracts will need to consider pandemics.
• Governments are fast-tracking “shovel ready” projects to stimulate a post-COVID economy.
• There is a substantial move for environment social governance (ESG) investing and tax incentives for green energy investments.
• In Singapore, there is a focus to get domestic projects back on track, however elsewhere countries are still investing in both domestic and foreign projects. There is no shortage in capital for projects.