Antaq (National Agency for Waterway Transport) wants to take off with at least two large waterways in the next government, but has already been startled by a request for an application by deputy Paulo Rocha (PT-PA) to assess the risks of the Araguaia-PA waterway project. Tocantins, which the Ministry of Infrastructure intends to grant to the private sector.
The application had been stopped since 2019, but was reactivated with the election of Lula, according to agency technicians.
The work foresees the explosion of rocks (overthrow, according to the technicians) that spread over a stretch of almost 40 km in length. It was authorized by Ibama in October, a way of releasing navigation to Vila do Conde (PA), an important point of connection with ports, railways and highways. Today, the river is not navigable in that stretch.
Without this, it will not be possible to implement the Araguaia-Tocantins waterway, which, when ready, will allow the flow of 20 to 60 million tons of cargo per year.
The cost of this project is R$ 3 billion and the resources are available, according to Antaq. There was only no progress because the operating license, held by the Dnit (National Department of Transport Infrastructure), expired.
This is a priority project for Antaq, which intends to consolidate inland navigation as a way of supplying agribusiness and mining products, both through the North and South ports.
The other waterways that will also receive more attention in the coming years are the Madeira River, Barra Norte, Tietê-Paraná and the South Atlantic.
Last week, there was a meeting between the Dnit (National Department of Land Infrastructure) and the São Paulo Infrastructure Secretariat, and the contract was signed for the works on the Tietê-Paraná waterway to be carried out with the money released from the privatization of Eletrobras .
It is up to Dnit to manage waterway works in the country.
There will be R$ 300 million for the demolition, which intends to expand the bed of the river to avoid that, in periods of drought –like the one faced last year– the transport of cargo is interrupted and the waterway is closed. With the bed dry and too shallow, the barges run the risk of running aground.
On the Madeira River, the works would consume R$1 billion, resources also provided for in the Budget to expand the capacity for transporting the crop in the Midwest to 15 million tons per year.
It is the most important transport route in Arco Norte, second only to the Amazon River itself. Today it serves for the disposal of grains such as soy, corn, and sugar produced in Mato Grosso.
The project called Barra Norte is still under study. Its difficulty is how to enable navigation in a stretch of mud so that the vessels can reach the mouth of the Amazon.
As a result of an agreement between Brazil and Uruguay, the South Atlantic waterway, budgeted at R$ 100 million, will be able to attract production from the neighboring country for exports through the ports in the south of Brazil.
Julio Wiziack (interim) with Paulo Ricardo Martins and Diego Felix
I have over 10 years of experience working in the news industry. I have worked for several different news organizations, including a large news website like News Bulletin 247. I am an expert in the field of economics and have written several books on the subject. I am a highly skilled writer and editor, and have a strong knowledge of social media. I am a highly respected member of the news industry, and my work has been featured in many major publications.
