Ministry of Ports Submits Santos-Guarujá Tunnel Project to Antaq

The National Secretary of Ports, Alex Ávila, submitted a request to the director of the National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq), Alber Furtado de Vasconcelos, asking the agency to deliberate on the continuation of the Santos-Guarujá tunnel construction project. According to Ávila, all public hearings have been fully completed. A formal request was also sent to the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU).

“The Baixada Santista community has been waiting for the bidding process for this project, anticipated for nearly a century, as it will bring significant benefits to the region, the state of São Paulo, and the country. The project will positively impact the operations of the largest port in the Southern Hemisphere,” emphasized Anderson Pomini, president of the Santos Port Authority (APS).

The tunnel project aligns with the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) ‘s policy of improving urban mobility and strengthening the integration between the port and surrounding cities. The MPor has already approved the Technical, Economic, and Environmental Feasibility Study (EVTEA), which outlines the framework for the sponsored concession project for the construction, operation, maintenance, and necessary investments for the Santos-Guarujá Immersed Tunnel, in partnership with the State Government of São Paulo.

The São Paulo State Investment Partnerships Secretariat concluded that there is no need for additional consultations or public hearings for the project. The São Paulo State Transportation Agency (Artesp) has already conducted these consultations and hearings in collaboration with the working group’s institutions. The consultations took place between March 14 and May 3, 2024, with public hearings held in three locations: Santos on April 17, 2024; Guarujá on April 18, 2024; and the Port of Santos on April 19, 2024.

In the request sent to Antaq, Secretary Alex Ávila agreed with the São Paulo State Government’s position, reaffirming the lack of need for additional consultations or public hearings. Ávila emphasized that, given Antaq’s regulatory responsibilities, the agency should evaluate and deliberate to ensure the project’s progress.

Source: Port of Santos

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