The sixth edition of the Congreso Latinoamericano INTI MTC 2024 will once again be held in San Carlos de Bariloche, a popular tourist destination in Argentina. In addition to technical presentations in the auditorium, the event will also include tours and practical workshops in mountain centers.
Photo: Catedral Alta Patagonia SA
Organisations Events Ropeways

ISR-INTERVIEW

Diverse development potential in Latin America

José Ignacio Talatinian, head of the Department of Ropeway Transportation Systems at the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial (INTI) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and an active contributor to OITAF, is also a member of the organizing team for the 6th Latin American Ropeway Congress – INTI MTC 2024 (October 30 to November 1, 2024). In this interview, he talks about current trends in Latin America, the strengths of ropeways in urban centers, the challenges of the labor market, and future potential in mountain areas.

Created by TS

ISR: “Safety” is the motto of the Congreso Latinoamericano INTI-MTC. The transformation of the ropeway industry in the region is also a focus of the event. What trends do you see in Argentina and Latin America today that will be discussed at the conference?
José Ignacio Talatinian: We are convinced at INTI that with each edition of the congress we have helped to raise the standard of ropeway safety in the region. As a technical reference body, we have seen a continuous increase in demand for our technical consulting services, and substantial efforts on the part of operators to upgrade and modernize their installations, and intensify inspections and checks on safety components. Our objective is to continue to provide know-how and all the tools needed to maintain and strengthen this trend. We are additionally encouraged to intensify these measures by today’s exponential growth of urban ropeway transportation in areas in Latin America.

The congress will highlight new projects and technologies for ropeway installations and the issues of modernization, inspection and maintenance, and also present success stories of ropeways as an effective solution to the major challenges of urban mobility in the cities of the world.

ISR: What challenges are ropeway operators currently facing in the region?
José Ignacio Talatinian: Latin America is no exception to a trend that can be observed worldwide: the difficulty of finding and retaining qualified personnel. Demand is very high, but the supply is limited, and it is difficult to motivate people, especially those who find work in Europe during our off-season. They subsequently find it very hard to turn their backs on the European market, where living conditions are different, and the opportunities for work and growing prosperity are a strong attraction. This migration of skilled labor is further encouraged by the fact that Latin American workers have a good reputation in Europe for professionalism and their ability to act and adapt quickly. In addition, we face the major challenge of a generation gap in the industry, with experienced professionals nearing retirement age and young people unable to absorb the full wealth of their predecessors’ know-how. That’s why we see the congress as a unique opportunity for resource building and workforce training.

ISR: How has the industry in Latin America developed in the last few years?
José Ignacio Talatinian: In recent years, the ropeway industry in Latin America has enjoyed a period of growth, particularly in the field of urban mobility. This demand for efficient transportation solutions in densely populated cities has led to the introduction of ropeways in cities like Medellin, Bogota, La Paz and Mexico City, where they have proven to be highly efficient in tackling traffic congestion and improving urban connectivity through integration with existing train and bus networks.

ISR: What opportunities for further development do you see?
José Ignacio Talatinian: Ropeways definitely have considerable and diverse potential. With its varied geography and environmental conditions, the region is well suited to the use of such systems, in both mountainous regions and urban areas, which still face major mobility challenges. In view of today’s growing demand for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly transportation solutions in urban areas, there are significant opportunities for growth in the industry.

ISR: The region is a global pioneer in the field of urban ropeways. Why has this concept been such a success there?
José Ignacio Talatinian: In my opinion, Latin America has become a pioneer because of the urgent need for effective mobility solutions in densely populated cities. In many cases, these facilities have reduced travel times to less than half, which is particularly meaningful in cities where growth has exceeded projections to the point where urban development could not be optimally planned. In addition, a ropeway does not take long to install, is a relatively low cost solution compared to other transportation systems, provides a convenient link to key interchanges and generally improves the quality of service for the public. All this makes it a very attractive and efficient option. Positive experiences in neighboring countries with similar socio-economic conditions are a further confidence booster for this type of facility.

ISR: Is there also potential for expansion in ski resorts and other mountain locations? If so, where and under what conditions?
José Ignacio Talatinian: Of course there is potential. In South America, especially in Argentina and Chile, we are fortunate to have the Andes, the longest continental mountain range in the world, with a wealth of opportunities for ski resort development. If you compare ropeway density in Europe, where ski resorts are well equipped and widely distributed, it is clear that there is still a lot of untapped potential in South America. Of course, all projects proposed must be sustainable and have as small an environmental footprint as possible. Currently, there are several promising projects in the planning phase in the central and southern regions of Argentina, but they face major challenges such as the difficulty of building roads in remote areas and the lack of a suitable infrastructure.

ISR: How difficult is it to secure financing for new ropeways or refurbishments?
José Ignacio Talatinian: Obtaining the necessary finance for new installations is indeed a challenge in Argentina. These projects involve substantial capital investments with a long-term time horizon, which means that investors need patience before they start to see a return on their capital. The lack of predictability with regard to the economic scenario exacerbates the situation, as maintaining financial stability is a constant challenge. It must nevertheless be said that there is considerable potential for development in the region. With the right planning, the commitment of all stakeholders and positive experiences in other countries in the region, there are real opportunities and a promising future for ropeways in Latin America.

ISR: Thank you for the interview.

Congreso Latinoamericano INTI MTC 

INTI became involved in the field of ropeway transportation in 2006, bringing together operators, manufacturers, regulatory authorities and independent experts to identify the industry’s specific needs, characteristics and international regulations. In Argentina, there were previously neither any national regulations nor sufficient technical information on the subject of ropeway installations. The organization’s efforts led to the publication of a technical manual on “Ropeway Safety” and other standard works on the subject, which served as the basis for drafting the relevant national legislation. In the context of these significant industry developments, INTI organized a first congress in Buenos Aires in 2012 to promote exchange between practitioners and experts. Since then, this industry event has been held at different locations every two years. This year, up to 200 participants from countries including Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela and Mexico, and also from Europe, will be attending the event, which is being held in Bariloche at the end of October.

www.argentina.gob.ar/6to-congreso-latinoamericano-inti-mtc-2024


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