Juruá Shipyard launches barge for Lhg Mining’s ore transport megaproject

The Juruá Shipyard, located in Iranduba, in the metropolitan region of Manaus (AM), launched a new barge into the river this week destined to transport ore for Lhg Mining, a company belonging to the J&F group. The vessel is part of one of the largest inland navigation projects currently under development in the country.

The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvawhich accompanied the launch during an official schedule held in Amazonas.

The project, valued at R$3.2 billion, foresees the construction of 400 barges and eight pushers designed to transport iron ore and manganese along the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway. The initiative is funded by the Merchant Marine Fund (FMM), one of the main support instruments for the Brazilian naval industry.

According to the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), responsible for managing FMM resources, R$230 million were released for the Juruá Shipyard. The company has already delivered 27 of the 128 barges under its responsibility and has another 51 units under construction.

The bank also informed that, considering all the shipyards involved in the project, 72 vessels have already been delivered and are in operation. In addition, another 98 barges and six pushers are still under construction in shipyards in the North and Northeast regions, with completion expected over the next four years.

The logistics structure will be used to transport mineral production extracted in Corumbá, in Mato Grosso do Sul. The cargo will travel approximately 2,500 kilometers along the Paraguay and Paraná rivers to the maritime terminal in Nova Palmira, in Uruguay, where they will be transferred to long-haul ships destined for the international market.

The venture is considered strategic to increase the competitiveness of Brazilian ore exports, reducing logistical costs and strengthening the use of waterways as a sustainable alternative for transporting large volumes of cargo.

In addition to the economic benefits, the project represents an important boost for the national naval industry, generating jobs, moving Brazilian shipyards and strengthening the production chain linked to the construction of vessels for inland navigation.