Tunnel between Santos and Guarujá to be built with federal funds

The Port of Santos has taken on the responsibility of constructing the Santos-Guarujá underwater tunnel, a project estimated to cost around R$ 5 billion in today’s currency, with funding provided by the port authority. The construction will commence in 2024, beginning with the route, which will take at least two years to complete.

According to Anderson Pomini, the newly appointed president of the Port Authority of Santos (APS), the decision to pursue this project with public funding revolves around charging a subsidized fare for its crossing. Currently, the only direct connection between the cities is via ferry, and the construction of a dry connection is a longstanding demand in the region.

“When you have a public-private partnership (PPP), the market becomes interested. However, there are no miracles. When the market invests, it expects a return to recover its investment. We intend to uphold the social aspect. The fare we establish will mirror the current ferry fare. That’s why it’s necessary to undertake the project using our own resources,” explained Pomini.

The plan is for the port to manage the route initially, but Pomini mentioned the possibility of concession after the project’s completion. “Once construction begins, we can negotiate concession agreements to ensure the maintenance of the tunnel after its delivery while still maintaining a socially-aware fare,” he stated.

In recent months, there has been a dispute between the federal and state governments regarding the construction of the Santos-Guarujá tunnel. Tarcísio de Freitas, the current governor of São Paulo, structured the project as a concession while serving as the Minister of Infrastructure in the previous administration.

Pomini noted that the state will be invited to donate funds towards the project. “We will request the state governor to provide financial support,” he stated. However, he emphasized that the decision ultimately lies with the federal government. “It is the responsibility of the federal government. Once the higher-level authority has expressed its stance, the interests of others need not be discussed unless they wish to offer assistance,” he added.

The Port of Santos has rejected the idea of granting a concession for deepening the port’s access channel from the current depth of 15 meters to 17 meters. Pomini explained that the intention is to carry out this intervention as a public work.

A new maintenance contract is expected to be drafted later this year, with the plan to extend its term from 2 to 10 years.

The company also intends to publish a public notice for the deepening works, with preparations and studies already underway. “We aim to issue the notice within this year, no later than 2024. These works consider the future structure of the port, which is an international requirement. The Port of Santos is already making preparations,” affirmed Pomini. Construction is planned to commence as early as 2024.

Source: Valor Econômico

To read the original news report, visit: https://valor.globo.com/empresas/noticia/2023/06/06/porto-de-santos-planeja-construo-de-tnel-santos-guaruj-como-obra-pblica.ghtml

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