Ministry of Ports and Airports studies reactivation of the São Francisco River Waterway to reduce costs

In order to reduce the cost of cargo transportation and, consequently, reduce food prices, the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) announced that it has started studies for the reactivation of the São Francisco River Waterway. The project is developed together with Codeba (Companhia das Docas do Estado da Bahia).

The initiative aims to improve the supply of inland cities, with more predictability in the arrival of essential products to the population. The expectation is that the reactivation will increase the circulation of goods and create jobs in the transport, port operations, commerce and services sectors.

According to MPor, the navigable stretch of the waterway currently measures 1,371 kilometers, between Pirapora, in Minas Gerais, and Juazeiro, in Bahia, in addition to Petrolina, in Pernambuco; with capacity to serve 505 cities and around 11.4 million people.

The project includes investments to boost the navigability of the river and expand infrastructure along the route, with Small Public Port Facilities (IP4). The proposal aims to guarantee access for riverside communities to waterway transport and consolidate logistical integration between inland regions.

The initiative foresees an initial movement of up to five million tons in the first year of operation. Among the main loads expected are grains, such as soybeans, corn and cotton, as well as fertilizers and other agricultural inputs.

The Minister of Ports and Airports, Tomé Franca, highlighted that the reactivation of the São Francisco Waterway expands the integration of regions that depend on the river as essential infrastructure. “The return of the Velho Chico waterway means bringing more development, making the transport of goods cheaper and connecting people.”