Government defines 19 areas for new ports
Folha de S. Paulo 04/08/2009
The Government concluded its study on the location of ports or terminals that should be built in order to comply with the increase of the cargo activity foreseen until 2023. 19 areas, subdivided into 45 ones have been defined. There are three points which are considered viable for the installation of export terminals for agricultural products (mainly soy) and general cargo (containers) on coast of São Paulo: two in Ubatuba and one in Peruíbe. In that area of influence of the Port of Santos, the forecast is that in 2023 47 million tons of soy may go through it, a volume far above the 10.1 million tons of 2008. In relation to the operation of containers, it is expected it goes from 2.7 million units to 8.8 million.
In Peruibe, the region where a port or terminal may be installed is a segment of 5 km, near the place called Ruínas do Abarebebê, an old Jesuit village of São João Batista de Peruíbe. In its surroundings, there are also some lands under the evaluation of Funai (Brazilian National Indian Foundation), which may be declared Indian reserves (Piaçaguera). In that segment, the analysis points to the possibility of transporting soy, bran and sugar. On the coast of Ubatuba, there are two segments, with one kilometer each, in which terminals could be installed to operate the same kind of cargo foreseen for Peruíbe. But the study emphasizes the proximity to a preserved area of Paranapiacaba and the Sea Ridge (Serra do Mar).According to Fernando Fialho, general director of Antaq (National Water Transport Agency), the study takes three items into consideration: the demand for cargo, the interaction with other kinds of transport (highways and railroads) and the physical conditions of the region - like depth and coast conditions. Those areas were classified according to their "natural logistics inclination". He explained it will be up to the Special Secretariat of Ports to decide where and how to install the new ports. "It may also serve as a basis for the private initiative to propose investments in private terminals. The document will be public and the potential investors will have access to it", he said.