MS Government Puts Porto Murtinho Up for Sale for R$16.6 Million

On December 13, the Government of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) published a notice putting the areas and complete infrastructure of Porto Murtinho’s Port Terminal up for sale, with a minimum value set at R$16.6 million. Previously operated under private sector concession, the state reclaimed the terminal in early 2022, and authorities have since been assessing its best use.

In August, the Strategic Partnerships Office (EPE) completed a study, and the Partnership Management Council decided to remove the project from concession plans. Instead, it was forwarded to the State Administration Secretariat (SAD) for auction proceedings.

The prevailing understanding was that selling the assets would be more advantageous. Five scenarios were initially presented, including asset sale or granting absolute usage rights for the area and infrastructure.

Interested parties can submit bids between January 20 and January 27, 2025.

The published notice details all items, including three areas totaling nearly 50,000 square meters, located in the urban zone of Porto Murtinho along the Paraguay River. The port equipment includes platforms, scales, air compressors, an elevator, and conveyor belts for loading and unloading products. All assets were valued at R$16.665 million.

Waterway Potential

The port’s former concessionaire, the Porto Murtinho Port Agency, lost its contract in January 2022 when the state reclaimed the facility, triggering an unsuccessful legal dispute for the company. The agency had secured the concession in 2021 and was set to operate until 2029. Since its reclamation, the structure has remained unused. As law requires, the government already has legislative approval to transfer the terminal to the private sector.

The waterway is a key component of the transport strategy for grains and minerals, utilizing the Paraguay River to reach Paraná and, ultimately, the Atlantic Ocean for exports. The federal government prioritizes the waterway, and a privatization study is underway. However, full utilization depends on dredging—a measure opposed by some within the federal government due to environmental concerns about the Pantanal wetlands.

In MS, mining companies in Corumbá use the river during high water levels, while a private port in Porto Murtinho receives grain shipments via truck for river transport.

Jaime Verruck, head of the State Secretariat for Environment, Development, Science, Technology, and Innovation (Semadesc), noted that companies were interested in visiting the site between January 15 and 17. Verruck highlighted improved access due to the construction of a ring road and emphasized the Bioceanic Route and the waterway as key attractions for potential buyers.

“While it’s possible for a buyer to acquire the property and not operate it as a port, given it has all the characteristics of one—storage facilities, authorization from ANTAQ for port operations, and environmental licensing—we expect, due to Porto Murtinho’s growth and the Bioceanic Route’s development, that companies will indeed be interested in establishing a port,” he said.

Source: Campo Grande News

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