en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Brazilian government is adjusting the auction plan for waterway concession contracts, following the suspension of some projects due to protests from indigenous communities. Marcus Cavalcanti, Special Secretary of the federal government's Investment Partnership Program (PPI), told BNamericas that authorities are reassessing these projects to determine whether the concession model is optimal or if other viable alternatives exist.

Initially, the federal government planned to auction concession contracts for six waterways: the Paraguay-Paraná River, Tocantins River, Madeira River, Lake Mirim, Northern Pará, and Tapajós River. However, this timeline is currently under review. Earlier this year, the government decided to temporarily shelve auction plans for the Madeira River, Tocantins River, and Tapajós River waterways, all located in the Amazon rainforest region, which had previously been approved via a 2025 presidential decree. The suspension was prompted by concerns from indigenous groups that waterway concessions would impact their way of life. Earlier this year, representatives from different indigenous communities occupied facilities of the multinational company Cargill in Santarém, Pará state, in protest.

The government is currently evaluating the best investment model for the waterways. Cavalcanti stated that traditional concessions may not be ideal for certain waterways, and it is necessary to assess the scale of required investments and understand the optimal contracting model. Depending on the specific circumstances, other forms of long-term contracts may be more meaningful. He emphasized that it is crucial to ensure water transport does not affect sensitive social and environmental elements.

According to the secretary, the government's goal for investing in waterways remains unchanged: to reduce the national logistics system's reliance on road freight. Efforts are currently underway to find a model that promotes waterway development while minimizing social and environmental concerns.

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