Partial expansion of the Port of Santos area to be authorized by the Federal Government

Ministers signed a partnership document between APS and companies for new public berths in Alemoa (Alexsander Ferraz/AT)

The Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) is expected to publish an ordinance in September authorizing the partial expansion of the polygonal area of the Organized Port of Santos. The confirmation came from Minister Silvio Costa Filho this Thursday (21), during a visit to the Port of Santos.

Costa Filho was accompanied by the Minister of Entrepreneurship, Microenterprise and Small Business, Márcio França, and by Minister of the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), Bruno Dantas, the rapporteur for the Santos-Guarujá tunnel auction process in the Court.

Costa Filho stated that, initially, a partial expansion of the port asset area will be authorized. “The idea is for the National Secretariat for Ports to submit the documentation for analysis by Conjur, our legal department, by August 30, so that in September we can have the first stage of the polygonal area authorized.”

Currently, Brazil’s largest port asset covers 7.8 million square meters (m²). The port administration seeks to incorporate 15 areas located in Santos, São Vicente, Guarujá, and Cubatão, totaling 12.6 million m².

If fully authorized, the Santos port would expand its polygonal area to 20.4 million m², representing a 162.4% increase.

“From that point on (publication of the first ordinance), we will analyze region by region, considering environmental issues, property matters involving municipalities and the Port, so that we can proceed in the best and most legally secure way possible”, the minister explained.

The President of the Santos Port Authority (APS), Anderson Pomini, who stood alongside the minister, praised the initiative. “It is absolutely positive, even if partial. At a later stage, we will address the remaining areas.”

Berths in Alemoa During the visit, a document was signed establishing a partnership between APS and companies operating in the Port of Santos to implement two new public liquid bulk berths in the Alemoa area. The investment is estimated at around R\$ 400 million, with an expected capacity increase of three million tons per year.

Ministers visit immersed tunnel site The visits by Ministers Silvio Costa Filho, Márcio França, and Bruno Dantas to the Cais da Marinha this Thursday (21) reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to making the Santos-Guarujá tunnel project viable, as they visited the construction area. The international bidding process, in the form of a sponsored concession under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, will take place on September 5 at 4 p.m. at the São Paulo Stock Exchange (B3).

“We hope to have President Lula present at B3 so we can finalize this project in partnership with the State Government”, said Costa Filho.

As rapporteur of the bidding process at the TCU, Minister Bruno Dantas emphasized that “although it is a tunnel that will pass beneath the Port’s access channel, it was agreed between federal and state authorities that it would be conducted as an urban mobility project.”

“The tunnel is the most definitive and modern solution available in the world, and it will be applied here. Everyone must fulfill their part”, said Márcio França, referring to the funding commitments made between the Federal Government and the São Paulo State Government that will be invested in the project.

The Port President, Anderson Pomini, celebrated: “This is a historic day, as the tunnel will impact the lives of 80,000 people who cross this channel daily, benefit 700 families who will receive homes and leave the stilt houses in Guarujá, and improve logistics and the Port’s efficiency, while also benefiting the environment.”

The visit also marked the beginning of a survey for rock removal services in the estuary, aiming to deepen the navigation channel to 16 meters. This is an investment of approximately R\$ 17 million, which will allow the Port to receive larger vessels and extend the time window for ship entries, regardless of high tide.

Tecon Santos 10 Minister Silvio Costa Filho expects the Tecon Santos 10 auction to take place in December. “We are working for the Tecon 10 auction to occur in the first half of December.” The bidding process is currently under review by the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) due to a restriction imposed by the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq) on companies that already hold assets in the Port. Costa Filho was asked about a technical recommendation from the Ministry of Finance, published yesterday, advocating for the auction to be open to all bidders. “We must wait for the Federal Court of Accounts to determine whether there is indeed market concentration or not. I believe judicial proceedings are part of any process — there are differing views — but all efforts are aimed at ensuring this auction takes place in December.”

Housing From the Cais da Marinha, authorities traveled by boat to Guarujá, where they delivered 73 houses in the Parque da Montanha housing complex, intended for families who previously lived in stilt houses on the Port’s Left Bank. “The tunnel has a social role, which is to relocate people from stilt houses into more dignified housing. We delivered some homes in April and are now delivering 73 of the 649 units. Furthermore, this project will significantly boost the value of Vicente de Carvalho and generate jobs — we are also investing in training our workforce”, said Guarujá’s mayor, Farid Madi (Podemos).