Decree Signed to Enable Land Regularization for the Construction of the Arroio do Sal Port

The construction of the Meridional Port in Arroio do Sal, located on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul, cleared another key hurdle on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 27. In a private ceremony held at Palácio Piratini, Governor Eduardo Leite signed the Decree of Public Utility (DUP) for the area designated for the development of the port.

The document was signed during a closed event, attended only by key authorities. Among the attendees, in addition to the governor, were Arroio do Sal’s Mayor, Luciano Pinto da Silva, along with lawmakers, business leaders, and representatives from DTA Engenharia, the company responsible for the project.

“With this decree, we reaffirm our commitment to sustainable development and the modernization of logistics in our state. By declaring the necessary works for the implementation of the Meridional Port as being of public utility, we are ensuring legal certainty and speeding up an investment that will bring long-lasting positive impacts to Rio Grande do Sul while fully complying with legislation and environmental care,” said Leite.

With the DUP in place, public authorities can now carry out the expropriations required for the port’s installation, as well as facilitate land regularization, thereby expediting the legal steps necessary to advance the project. The port is currently awaiting approval of environmental licenses to proceed with public hearings involving the local population.

According to DTA Engenharia, the Arroio do Sal Port project includes ten berths for docking large ships: eight for containers, solid bulk, liquid cargo, and gas, and two for cruise ships. In addition to cargo throughput and product flow, the port is also expected to boost tourism in Rio Grande do Sul once completed in the coming years.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026, starting with the breakwater, which will shelter the port. The breakwaters will be constructed from rock and artificial blocks, utilizing Dutch technology. This will be followed by a dredging operation to a depth of 17 meters, with the dredged material being used to build up the back area through hydraulic land reclamation.

Due to its coastal location, road transport is expected to be the primary mode of access to Meridional Port. However, the company plans to explore alternative logistics solutions to facilitate cargo movement to and from the terminal.

The port will have the capacity to handle up to 53 million tons per year. The total investment is estimated at R$6.5 billion, with R$1.5 billion allocated to general infrastructure and R$5 billion to the installation of berths and terminals. The project is expected to generate over 2,000 direct jobs and nearly 5,000 indirect jobs, boosting the regional economy and enhancing the state’s logistics competitiveness.

Last week, Mayor Luciano Pinto was also in Brasília to discuss the project. According to him, the city has been receiving support from the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho. “The Meridional Port will be a turning point for our economy, with the potential to attract new investments and strengthen the logistics infrastructure of our region. This is a historic step we are taking with responsibility, political unity, and a strategic vision for the future,” he emphasized.

According to the Municipality of Arroio do Sal, the Meridional Port project is currently in the environmental licensing phase with the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA). Construction is expected to begin next year in the Jardim Olívia Norte area.

Source: Correio do Povo

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