The Federal Government announced on Friday, June 13, the launch of the New São Francisco River Waterway. Stretching 1,371 kilometers from Pirapora in Minas Gerais to Juazeiro in Bahia and Petrolina in Pernambuco, the waterway will provide a more economical and sustainable cargo transport route from Brazil's South-Central region to the Northeast.
Projections suggest that cargo movement along the São Francisco River could reach five million tons in the first year of resumed commercial navigation. The project also includes integration with other modes of transport, including railroads and highways.
"This is a significant initiative for the development of the Northeast and will be strategic for the entire region. In June, we will sign the delegation agreement with the Bahia State Dock Company (Codeba) and begin technical studies in partnership with Infra SA," said Silvio Costa Filho, Minister of Ports and Airports, during a ceremony in Petrolina where he announced the decentralization of the waterway to Codeba.
Dino Antunes, National Secretary of Waterways and Navigation at the Ministry of Ports and Airports, emphasized that the New São Francisco Waterway represents a step forward in national logistics, connecting regions and promoting cleaner, more efficient, and competitive transport. The project envisions the transport of various cargo types, including agricultural inputs.
As one of Brazil's most significant logistics projects, the New São Francisco Waterway aims to enhance cargo flow and support regional development. The São Francisco River, known as "Velho Chico," originates in the Serra da Canastra in Minas Gerais and flows northward through several states, including the Federal District, Goiás, Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, and Pernambuco. It directly impacts 505 municipalities and more than 11.4 million people.
The implementation of the project is divided into three phases. Phase 1 will cover a 604-kilometer stretch from Juazeiro and Petrolina, through Sobradinho, to Ibotirama in Bahia. From Ibotirama, cargo will be transported by truck to the Port of Aratu-Candeias in the Bay of All Saints. Phase 2 will develop the section between Ibotirama and the municipalities of Bom Jesus da Lapa and Cariacá, with 172 kilometers of navigable waterway, connecting to the Ports of Ilhéus and Aratu-Candeias by rail. Phase 3 will extend the waterway by another 670 kilometers, linking Bom Jesus da Lapa and Cariacá to Pirapora.
Source: Datamar News
