Tecon Santos 10 to bring major investments and local offset measures to Santos

For every major initiative, impacts naturally follow. This is no different with the Santos 10 Container Terminal (Tecon Santos 10), located at the Saboó quay (STS10) in the Port of Santos, which is scheduled for auction in December. To address this, mitigation and compensation measures will be implemented for the benefit of the city, according to Brazil’s National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq).

“The study supporting the terminal’s bidding process indicates that municipal legislation in Santos requires, as part of the environmental licensing process, the preparation of a Neighborhood Impact Study (EIV) as well as a Traffic Impact Report (RIT),” states Antaq.

The agency explains that the future lessee will be responsible for all associated costs, including mitigation and compensation measures. “However, if the total investment exceeds R$5.79 million, the lessee may request a financial rebalancing of the contract, sharing the excess costs equally with the granting authority,” it clarifies.

Mayor Rogério Santos noted that the city will propose compensation and mitigation measures based on the EIV report. “They will likely focus on drainage, access improvements, and social offsets to benefit local residents,” he said. “We understand the concession fee goes entirely to the federal government, but the municipality will be impacted both positively and negatively. These measures will be determined once the winning company presents the required report to the city.”

Below is a historical overview of long-haul container traffic at the Port of Santos from January 2022 to June 2025. The chart was prepared using DataLiner data and considers only long-haul operations, excluding transshipment, cabotage, and other types of movements:

Container Throughput at the Port of Santos | Jan 2022 to Jun 2025 | TEU

The future terminal is poised to be the largest container terminal in South America. Tecon Santos 10 will cover 621,900 m², with annual capacity for 3.25 million TEUs and 91,000 tonnes of general cargo. The contract will last 25 years, beginning in 2026 and potentially extending to 2050.

“This terminal will move Brazil up in global container rankings from 46th to 15th place. It will boost our handling capacity by 30%, which is a huge leap. It’s vital for Brazil, but it must also benefit Santos. As mayor, I will fight for offsets to ensure the terminal only has positive impacts on the city and port workers,” Santos emphasized.

The city is also requesting that the passenger terminal be relocated from Outeirinhos to Valongo, near Santos’ historic center. “The city proposed and had accepted the construction of a new passenger terminal. We are also requesting that the current site be converted into a public quay to serve casual port workers, truck drivers, and logistics operators, in addition to the offsets required of the new terminal.”

Minimal Compensation

Retired environmental prosecutor Daury de Paula Júnior criticized the R$5.7 million threshold for rebalancing, calling it insignificant, especially in the context of cultural heritage impacts.

“If a traffic study determines that an access ramp must be built, the cost could far exceed R$5.7 million, as seen with the JK Iguatemi mall in São Paulo,” he recalled, referring to a 2012 project that required viaduct and overpass construction due to traffic impacts.

Port Authority Collaboration

Anderson Pomini, president of the Santos Port Authority (APS), stated that if compensation exceeds the threshold, APS may help cover the shortfall. “What matters is integrating the port with the city. Municipal law already requires accounting for the impact of port operations,” he explained.

Pomini said the city typically uses these compensations to build public infrastructure, such as daycare centers and schools. “But funds can also be used to mitigate local environmental impacts. Overall, the impact is more positive than negative,” he added.

Architect and urban planner Ricardo Andalaft argued that compensation should be efficient and address broader community needs. “We should also consider those who use these roads daily for work, school, or commuting.”

He suggested housing as a potential focus. “Santos has a large housing deficit. These compensations could revitalize obsolete areas into residential zones, especially near the port, to reduce commute times for service workers.”

Job creation is another factor. “We hope local residents benefit from the employment opportunities created by this expansion,” he added.

Environmental Obligations

Antaq emphasized that the lessee must maintain all required environmental licenses and permits throughout the duration of the contract. The contract draft includes an obligation to publish an annual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions inventory and to replace older equipment with models that emit lower amounts of GHGs.

The lessee must also submit an Environmental Impact Study and detail programs to be implemented during the terminal’s construction and operational phases. Additionally, they must obtain environmental licensing from Cetesb for building the slab and pier of the new Valongo Passenger Terminal.

The slab and pier, measuring 35,097 m² and 17,854 m² respectively, must be completed within four years of the lease start. However, no investment is yet allocated for road access to the new passenger terminal.

Ecoporto Compensation

Pomini revealed that the terminal must also support general cargo and Ro-Ro (roll-on/roll-off) operations to offset the departure of Ecoporto, which currently operates under a transitional contract.

Antaq stated that the new lessee must compensate Ecoporto for its previous investments. “The bidding documents require a deposit of R$307.49 million as a financial safeguard to cover potential compensation to Ecoporto Santos,” the agency noted. The future of Ecoporto has not yet been disclosed.

Source: A Tribuna

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