For the first time in its history, Brazil will hold a public consultation involving a waterway concession. Interested parties will be able to present their contributions to a project that will seek to increase the safety and reliability of navigation on the Paraguay River, along a 600-kilometer stretch.
The opening of the public consultation was announced this Thursday (19) by the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq), linked to the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor). On the occasion, a technical presentation of the project and the bidding modeling proposal was also made.
Antaq is a local authority that enjoys administrative and functional autonomy and is responsible for regulating and supervising waterway transport and the operation of port and waterway infrastructure.
Through public consultation, any interested party will be able to submit contributions, subsidies and suggestions on the modeling and concession documents. Manifestations may be presented between December 26, 2024 and February 23, 2025.
Transparency
“The action aims to promote transparency and social participation in the modeling of the project, which is considered a milestone for the national waterway sector”, records a note released by the agency.
The section to be tendered goes from Corumbá (MS) to Porto Murtinho (MS). The contractual term of the concession will be 15 years with the possibility of extension for an equal period.
The winner of the competition will be responsible, in the first five years, for dredging and demolition services – removal of rocks and obstacles in watercourses, such as rivers and canals – improvement of signage, construction of an industrial warehouse, improvements to crossings and implementation of waterway traffic management systems. In addition, it must carry out hydrological monitoring and hydrographic surveys, as well as adopt river intelligence services.
The estimated direct investment in these first five years is R$63.8 million. The Paraguay River waterway concession is identified by Antaq as the largest infrastructure project under regional development in South America.
According to the agency, it combines sustainable development and logistical efficiency, in addition to offering significant gains for the region’s production chain and promoting the development of shipping companies.
Rates
Last week, documents relating to the bidding modeling were delivered by Antaq to the Ministry of Ports and Airports. They indicate that there should be no fares charged for the transport of passengers and small loads. Furthermore, charging for the movement of larger volume cargo will only begin when the winner of the concession delivers the services provided for in the first phase of the contract.
The forecast is for a maximum tariff of R$1.27 per ton of cargo. In the initial proposal, the bidding would take into account the proposal that offered the lowest rate. However, suggestions for changes to the contest criteria may arrive through the public consultation, which will be evaluated.
According to projections shared by Antaq, with the improvements to be obtained from the concession, cargo transport on the Paraguay River should move, from 2030 onwards, between 25 and 30 million tons per year. This volume represents a significant increase compared to the current scenario: in 2023, 7.95 million tons of cargo were transported via the waterway.
