Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
0 comments 
While NASA Reached Pluto with R$ 2.2 Billion, Construction in Brazil Has Already Cost More Than R$ 40 Billion — Check Out 5 Works That Far Exceed the Amount Spent by the American Agency on Its Mission
Sending a probe to Pluto seems like something from another world. But for NASA, it cost “only” US$ 700 million — around R$ 2.2 billion. With this amount, it was possible to take the first close-up photo of the dwarf planet, which went viral and gained prominence on the internet. Seems like a lot? In Brazil, there are infrastructure projects with costs up to 15 times higher.
One of these projects is the expansion of the São Paulo metro. With several lines still under construction or expansion, the project has already exceeded R$ 42 billion in investments. It’s the kind of expense that would allow Brazil to reach Pluto more than a dozen times — if that were the destination.
The comparison with NASA’s space mission highlights the scale of the amounts involved in Brazilian public works, which often accumulate delays, revisions, and complications over the years.
-
GDP preview surprises, grows 1.3% in the first quarter and shows Brazilian economy gaining strength in an election year, but market still sees slowdown until the end of 2026
-
São Paulo revolutionizes public health financing with R$ 9.7 billion, transfers up to five times larger, and a record of 3.5 million surgeries.
-
A building that looks like an inverted ship draws attention in São Paulo: the Hotel Unique, with 84 meters, round windows, exposed concrete, and a red pool on top.
-
Ypê puts R$ 130 million on the table after Anvisa identifies 88 sanitary failures, 142 batches with unsatisfactory analyses, and microbiological risk in a factory in SP; the company promises a “pharmaceutical level” laboratory and a task force to avoid another shutdown.
São Paulo Metro: Delays and Billions
The expansion of the São Paulo metro remains one of the most expensive ongoing projects in the country. Several lines are simultaneously under construction or expansion. The total cost of the project has already surpassed R$ 42 billion.
And the delays continue to shape the pace. Lines like the 6-Orange, for example, have accumulated changes in the schedule. The initial delivery estimate was 2020, but the date has been pushed to 2026. Other lines, like the 2-Green, also face successive delays, with timelines that change year after year.
Belo Monte: Largest Ongoing Project
The Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant is already in operation, but its billion-dollar cost still draws attention. The project, which consumed around R$ 40 billion, was one of the most expensive in the country’s history.
During the construction phase, the project became the target of investigations by the Public Ministry and the TCU, which investigated the involvement of companies mentioned in Operation Car Wash.
Even completed, the plant remains a symbol of a project marked by delays, controversies, and high costs.
Comperj: Focus of Operation Car Wash
The Petrochemical Complex of Rio de Janeiro (Comperj), currently known as GasLub Itaboraí, remains one of the most expensive projects ever undertaken by Petrobras.
The total investment exceeds R$ 20 billion. The project was marked by interruptions and investigations during the years of Operation Car Wash, which identified signs of irregular spending and estimated losses of around R$ 1 billion.
Although part of the facilities has been repurposed for new ventures in the natural gas sector, the original project was never completed as planned.
Transposition of the São Francisco: Controversial Work
The transposition of the São Francisco River began with a projected completion date in 2012 but faced successive delays. The project was only considered completed in 2022, after nearly two decades of construction.
The initiative aimed to bring water from the São Francisco River to regions of the northeastern semi-arid, through artificial channels that connect watersheds.
The total cost of the project exceeded R$ 12 billion, well above the R$ 8.2 billion initially estimated. Even finished, the transposition still faces challenges related to the operation and maintenance of the channels.
North-South Railway: Nearly Three Decades
The North-South Railway began construction in the 1980s and took decades to advance. The stretch between Ouro Verde (GO) and Estrela d’Oeste (SP), with an estimated cost of R$ 4.3 billion, was completed only in 2020.
Even with this progress, the railway still does not fully meet its original promise of integrating Brazil by rail from north to south.
The full operation depends on additional stretches, private concessions, and logistical improvements in other regions. Over the years, the project has become a symbol of delays, replanning, and prolonged investments.
These five works demonstrate how infrastructure costs in Brazil reach astronomical values. In many cases, what was meant to improve citizens’ lives ends up remaining on paper or moving at a slow pace — literally costing more than a trip to Pluto.
With information from F5.folha.
-
1 person reacted to this.