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

Published on Nov 3, 2020

Moderator & Panelists

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

Challenges for Infrastructure Projects in the Current Environment

Key Takeaways

  • 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.

Audio Recording

Video Recording