Industry Analysis

Zaaz advances 540 km fiber network in Minas Gerais with BNDES support

September 27, 2026

Brazil’s Zaaz Telecom will invest approximately US$6.6 million to build a 540 km fiber-optic network in Minas Gerais, including 503 km of backbone infrastructure. The project is expected to enable up to 19,000 new connections and expand high-capacity internet access to roughly 49,800 households. Source: BNAmericas

Jamaica begins US$51 million NMIA apron reconstruction

September 27, 2026

Reconstruction has begun on the 109,270-square-metre aircraft apron at Norman Manley International Airport under an eight-phase program designed to keep the airport fully operational during construction. The approximately US$51 million project will replace existing concrete pavement, while a separate US$70–80 million runway extension is also planned. Source: JIS.gov

Scatec inaugurates 142 MW Rio Urucuia solar plant in Brazil

September 27, 2026

Scatec has inaugurated the 142 MW Rio Urucuia solar plant in Minas Gerais after commercial operations began in July. The company invested approximately US$85 million in the project, with 75% of expected output contracted to Statkraft under a ten-year PPA. Source: Canary Solar

Guyana invests US$3.3 million in waste management in first half of 2026

September 27, 2026

Guyana spent approximately US$3.3 million on sanitation and solid waste management in the first half of 2026, including landfill and access-road upgrades, construction of a hazardous-waste cell and the distribution of 75 garbage-compactor trucks. The Government also began preparing a National Solid Waste Management Strategic Plan to guide future investment and policy. Source: Guyana Chronicle 

Jamaica advances Queen Heights water system toward 2027 procurement

September 27, 2026

Jamaica’s National Water Commission is advancing plans for a new water system in Queen Heights, St. Ann, with more than $500 million expected to be invested in the project. The Government plans to move the project to procurement in 2027 following the required preparatory work. Source: JIS.gov

Guyana connects Karrau public facilities to solar-storage mini-grid

September 27, 2026

Guyana has connected public buildings in Karrau to a 41.5 kWp solar mini-grid backed by 187 kWh of battery storage. The system supplies schools, an ICT hub, health post, village office and other community facilities, benefiting nearly 500 residents who use them daily. Source: GEA.gov

Chile completes first field test of grid-forming battery technology

September 27, 2026

Chile’s grid operator, Engie Chile and Huawei have completed the country’s first field tests of grid-forming technology at the Los Loros battery system. During testing, a power block formed an electrical island and maintained stable voltage and frequency. Source: PV Magazine

Alibaba Cloud opens first South American cloud region in Brazil

September 11, 2026

Alibaba Cloud has launched its first cloud region in Brazil and South America, comprising two data centers. The new region provides local cloud, AI, computing, storage, networking, security and disaster-recovery services, with enterprise-grade agentic AI services planned for the region. Source: Alibaba Cloud

Voltalia’s US$35.6 billion Pecém data-center project clears ZPE approval

September 11, 2026

Brazil’s National Council of Export Processing Zones has approved Voltalia Energia do Brasil’s planned data center in Ceará’s Pecém Export Processing Zone. The US$35.6 billion project is expected to drive expansion of dedicated wind and solar generation and use reclaimed water for cooling, with environmental licensing and other permits now required before development can proceed. […]