Port of Santos launches R$ 717 million tender to modernize Itatinga and create a tourism complex

Itatinga is located in the Serra do Mar mountain range; the site was formerly Fazenda Pelaes and was acquired by Companhia Docas de Santos in 1903 (Vanessa Rodrigues/AT)

The Santos Port Authority (APS) has launched a public tender for the concession of the Itatinga Hydroelectric Complex in Bertioga. The tender notice was published on Monday in the Federal Official Gazette (Diário Oficial da União). The contract, valued at BRL 717.5 million (estimated gross operating revenue to be generated by the concessionaire), will have a term of 20 years, with the possibility of extension. Bid proposals will be opened on August 17.

Released eight months after the original schedule, the tender documents are available at this link . Parties interested in participating in the bidding process must submit the required documentation, including authorization documents and proposals, through the same electronic platform. According to APS, qualification documents will be reviewed on August 11, and the public session for opening proposals will take place on August 17, starting at 3:00 p.m.

The future concessionaire, whether a company or consortium, will assume responsibility for the entire complex, which includes the hydroelectric power plant and Vila de Itatinga, comprising 61 residences and community facilities. Under the terms of the tender, the private operator will be responsible for the modernization, expansion, and operation of the power plant, as well as the restoration of the site's properties for redevelopment into a hospitality and tourism complex.

Regarding the power plant, the concessionaire will be required to invest in increasing the installed generating capacity from the current 15 MW to 18 MW and in upgrading the approximately 30-kilometer transmission line. The plant currently supplies electricity to APS, and maintaining this supply is one of the contract's primary obligations. Surplus energy may be sold commercially. The contract will also require investment in studies related to renewable energy generation from the Itatinga Small Hydroelectric Plant (PCH Itatinga), with a focus on green hydrogen (H2) production.

According to the Port of Santos authority, the plant's operational performance will be periodically assessed through electricity-sector performance indicators.

The investments required for the modernization of civil, hydraulic, and electromechanical infrastructure are estimated at approximately BRL 200 million. In return, the concessionaire will transfer to APS a percentage of not less than 3% of the gross operating revenue generated annually.

“The Itatinga concession combines the preservation of a century-old asset with the Port Authority’s vision for the future. Through the modernization of the power plant and the potential integration of green hydrogen production, the Port of Santos strengthens its role in the energy transition, reaffirming its commitment to sustainability and operational efficiency”, said APS President Anderson Pomini.

Historic heritage

Construction of the Itatinga Small Hydroelectric Plant (PCH Itatinga) began in 1904 and was completed in 1910, making it one of Brazil’s first run-of-river hydroelectric plants. For more than a century, the facility has provided energy support for Port of Santos operations.

Vila de Itatinga preserves its original buildings, workers’ housing, and community facilities, including a church, school, bakery, and sports club, among other structures. The site constitutes a cultural, historical, and architectural heritage asset of recognized significance and has attracted interest for heritage preservation, ecotourism, and historical-cultural tourism initiatives.

Location and tender

The Itatinga Complex is located within the boundaries of the Organized Port of Santos but is not directly designated for port operations.

The project encompasses the Itatinga Small Hydroelectric Plant (PCH Itatinga), the power transmission line, and Vila de Itatinga, in Bertioga.

The agreement will be executed under a paid-use concession model and will have a 20-year term, with the possibility of extension. The winning bidder will be selected based on a combination of technical qualifications and price criteria.

According to the tender documents, the future concessionaire may generate revenue through the operation of activities carried out within the complex, charging users directly for services provided.

In return, the concessionaire must pay APS a variable percentage corresponding to at least 3% of the gross operating revenue generated from the use of the area.

The estimated contract value is BRL 717.5 million, representing the projected gross operating revenue to be generated throughout the entire concession period.

Access

Access to Itatinga is by boat via the Bertioga Channel. The journey takes approximately one and a half hours.

Upon arriving in Bertioga, access to the hydroelectric complex is provided by tramcars dating back to the 1920s, which travel a 7.5-kilometer route. The trip takes approximately 25 minutes.