The president of the Puerto Concepción Autarchic Entity of Uruguay, Marcelo Gay Balmáz, reported that the two delegations that make up the Administrative Commission of the Uruguay River (CARU) gave the go-ahead to carry out the feasibility study for a dredging 34 feet from the Uruguay River.
“For us it has been news of enormous importance because it is what we were waiting for. From the national delegation they have confirmed to us that Argentina has given the go-ahead to carry out this study, which will be the one that will finally dictate the technical, operational, environmental and economic possibilities to carry out this work,” Gay Balmáz said, according to the newspaper El Argentino. of Gualeguaychu.
“It is unthinkable that we do not have a dredging system that allows the production to be taken through the ports of Fray Bentos and Paysandú, where 45% of the grains are produced. And it has to be transported by road, for 200, 300 kilometers. Without a dredging At 34 feet it is impossible to be competitive because the ships that export our products cannot fill their warehouses and double or triple the costs to reach our ports and export our production”, the mayor of Río Negro Omar Lafluf had declared during the last meeting held. by the Committee for the Development of the Uruguay River Basin at CARU headquarters.
Gay Balmáz added that Argentina gave the go-ahead to carry out this feasibility study, “which will be the one that finally dictates the technical, operational, environmental and economic possibilities to carry out this work.”
“The only thing left was Argentina’s decision, since Uruguay had already confirmed its support for carrying out the necessary studies for dredging, so, if both countries agree, it only remains to wait for the necessary procedures to carry out the study; that is, Both countries entrust the work to CARU, assign the funds and tender the work”, he commented.
Gay Balmáz recalled that “today ships cannot fully load in Concepción del Uruguay due to draft issues and must add one more stopover in other ports to complete their warehouses”, which represents “an additional cost of almost US$ 100,000 for all exporters, which takes away our competitiveness”.
“Each ship today generates about 700 jobs, with a 34-foot dredging these figures can be multiplied by 10. And not only that, ensuring the continuity of work for people is a fundamental aspect for an entire labor sector that needs it is urgent to have a predictable source of work and with excellent wages”, reported the newspaper El Argentino de Gualeguaychú.
“With the routes, the trains running and with a draft of 34 feet, these figures become real engines for job creation, agricultural and industrial development, and the entry of genuine foreign exchange for export,” said the hierarch.
