Megaterminal in Santos to have its future defined by the TCU this Tuesday

Area of the megaterminal at the Saboó quay, in Santos: months of indecision in a confidential process at the TCU (Alexsander Ferraz/AT)

If the Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU) defines this Tuesday (18) the auction model for the Santos 10 Container Terminal (Tecon) at the Saboó quay (STS10), in the Port of Santos, it will still be possible to hold the tender this year, as promised by the Ministério de Portos e Aeroportos (MPor). However, any postponement of the decision for any reason makes the process unfeasible, generating uncertainties regarding the concession of the area.

After six months of analyses, the TCU scheduled for this Tuesday (18), at 2:30 p.m., in an extraordinary session, the presentation of the report by minister Antonio Anastasia, the case rapporteur.

He will present and justify his vote, agreeing or not with the restriction imposed by the Agência Nacional de Transportes Aquaviários (Antaq) on the auction. The model defined by the agency prohibits companies that already operate container terminals in Santos from participating in the first phase of the bidding. These companies would only be allowed to compete in a second stage, if there are no interested parties in the first, and under the condition that they terminate their current contracts to assume the new one.

After Anastasia, the other ministers are expected to vote. If there is no request for review (when a minister asks for more time to analyze the case), the decision will be finalized.

The auction has triggered a power dispute among major companies in the sector and pressure on the Federal Government and public institutions, with opposing opinions regarding Antaq’s restriction. The TCU’s slow pace in analyzing the tender has also led to various backstage speculations.

Area to be leased The auction for Tecon Santos 10 will be the largest in Brazil, with investments estimated at more than R\$ 6 billion in the area and an upfront concession fee (amount paid by the winner to the Autoridade Portuária de Santos) that may exceed R\$ 1 billion. The megaterminal will occupy an area of 621.9 thousand square meters, with a capacity of 3.25 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) per year, in addition to 91 thousand tons of general cargo. The contract term will be 25 years, renewable.

The Tecon Santos 10 contract will also make possible the relocation of the Giusfredo Santini Passenger Terminal, operated by Concais, from Outeirinhos to Valongo. The future lessee of Tecon Santos 10 will build, on the water, in front of Parque Valongo, the basic infrastructure for Concais.