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Government Announces R$ 3.6 Billion to Resume Works on the Transnordestina Railway with the New Social Infrastructure Investment Fund.
Last Friday, (02/0), a new phase for the Transnordestina railway was initiated with the sanction of the Social Infrastructure Investment Fund (FIIS) by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The ceremony took place at the Port of Pecém, in São Gonçalo do Amarante, Ceará, and marks the return of the railway expansion works, which will receive a significant investment of R$ 3.6 billion from the government.
Creation of the FIIS and Resources for the Transnordestina Railway
The FIIS, the result of a collaboration between the Government and the National Congress, aims to finance various infrastructure projects, including the completion of the Transnordestina railway.
The new law allocates R$ 3.6 billion for this project, with the aim of resuming and accelerating the works.
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The fund is an initiative to ensure necessary resources and will be managed by the Civil House, with the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) as the financial agent.
According to the Minister of Transport, Renan Filho, the works should start immediately.
The initial section to be resumed is between Quixeramobim and Quixadá, with an extension of 50 kilometers and an estimated cost of R$ 750 million. Of this, R$ 600 million will come from BNDES.
The works will also include the construction of a footbridge at the Port of Pecém to connect cargo ships to the railway tracks.
History and Challenges of the Transnordestina Railway
The Transnordestina railway has a long history, marked by various challenges and stoppages.
The project began to be discussed in the 20th century, when economist Celso Furtado highlighted the need for a railway that connected the Northeast region to the rest of Brazil.
Since then, sections have been built and abandoned, and the project has faced several interruptions.
President Lula mentioned that the project came onto his personal radar in 1989, during his first presidential campaign, after a conversation with former Pernambuco governor Miguel Arraes.
Lula recalls that during his first term, he attempted to initiate the works but faced difficulties due to differing interests and political interpretations.
After a series of meetings and legal milestones, the project gained some momentum but suffered new delays.
Structure and Administration of the Fund
The FIIS was created to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and transparently.
The law establishes that the fund will be funded by budget allocations, loans, and agreements.
The administration of the fund will be handled by a management committee coordinated by the Civil House.
The expectation is that the FIIS will raise about R$ 10 billion, with R$ 3.6 billion earmarked exclusively for the Transnordestina.
In addition to financing the railway, the fund will also allow for the renegotiation of loans with the Northeast Bank (BNB) and permit new disbursements.
Between 2024 and 2026, the fund is expected to release R$ 1 billion per year for the project, with an additional R$ 600 million in 2027.
These resources will allow for the completion of over a thousand kilometers of tracks, essential for connecting Ceará, Piauí, and Pernambuco.
Impact and Future Perspectives
The Transnordestina is considered one of the largest infrastructure projects in Northeast Brazil.
The completion of the railway is seen as a priority for the Government, which intends to integrate it into the Low Carbon Hydrogen Legal Framework project, sanctioned at the same ceremony.
This project aims to adapt the Port of Pecém for the production of green hydrogen, connecting it to the Transnordestina and potentially transforming the region.
Minister Renan Filho emphasized that the completion of the Transnordestina will significantly contribute to the economic development of the region, improving the transport of grains, fertilizers, cement, fuels, and ore.
The delivery of Phase 1 is scheduled for 2027, with Phase 2 completed by 2029. The project is crucial for the Brazilian trade balance and for the development of the northeastern states.
The Transnordestina project has a total extension of 1,209 kilometers, connecting Eliseu Martins, in Piauí, to the Port of Pecém, in Ceará, passing through Salgueiro, in Pernambuco.
A 548-kilometer branch that departs from Salgueiro towards Pernambuco will also be built.
This branch was initially excluded from the concession contract but was reintegrated into the New PAC, with a forecast of R$ 450 million for its construction.
The Ministry of Transport published a notice for hiring the company responsible for the executive project of the Pernambuco branch in April this year.
This stretch is crucial for the flow of products from the region and will have a significant impact on the local economy.
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