Brazil Funds Sao Francisco River Diversion Project

Brazil is to invest a total of R$1.03bn ($659m) in the Sao Francisco river diversion project in 2011.

The project aims to divert water to Ceara, Pernambuco, Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte in the semi-arid area of north-east Brazil.

The government invested R$226m ($144m) in the first half of the year and plans to spend about R$800m ($509m) in the second half.

The work is expected to be complete by the end of 2015, reports bnamericas.com.