Brazilian Government Awards R$92.8 Million Contract for Dredging Along Amazon River

The Brazilian Government announced on Wednesday (4th) the winner of the bid to begin dredging the Amazon River along the 200-kilometer stretch between Manaus and Itacoatiara. The project will require an investment of R$92.8 million. This is part of a broader plan by the Ministry of Ports and Airports to invest approximately R$500 million over the next five years to ensure safe navigation year-round from the Peruvian and Colombian borders to Itacoatiara, a distance of more than 1,500 kilometers mid-river.

With the signing of the contract with the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (Dnit), DTA Engenharia, the winning company, will be able to kickstart the works in time to mitigate the effects of the dry season on navigation and the supply of goods. The Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, explained that the goal is permanently restoring the river’s navigability. “We are committed to ensuring year-round navigability on these rivers, as they are vital for transporting people, staple goods, and exporting commodities,” he said.

The National Secretary of Waterways and Navigation, Dino Antunes, confirmed that the dredging works will begin in the coming days and are expected to reduce the impact of the drought in the North region. “We took another step today in a process that began several months ago. With this contract signed, we are securing dredging services for the next five years. This will ensure there are no disruptions in the coming years. In the next few days, we will issue the service order to enable the start of work,” he stated.

This initiative is part of the actions announced by the Ministry of Ports and Airports to prevent the effects of the 2024 dry season. The program’s highlight is its detailed planning and predictability, which will extend over the next five years. The Ministry is committed to implementing projects strategically, anticipating upcoming needs, and preparing sustainable solutions for a more predictable and well-structured future ahead of time.

Efforts to Mitigate Drought in the Amazon

In June this year, the Ministry of Ports and Airports signed contracts for dredging services in four sections of the Amazon and Solimões rivers.

In addition to the stretch extending between Manaus and Itacoatiara, the contracts cover the Coari-Codajás, Benjamin Constant-Tabatinga, and Benjamin Constant-São Paulo de Olivença sections.

Despite these contracts’ broad scope, dredging will only be carried out in specific locations known as critical points. Dnit identified these areas after a technical inspection in April.

Sharing is caring!