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Lack Of Ibama License Delays The Opening Of The Transnordestina Railway. Billion-Dollar Project In The Northeast Remains Without Defined Date.
The eagerly anticipated inauguration of the Transnordestina railway, which will connect the interior of the Northeast to the coast of Ceará and Pernambuco, was postponed on the eve of the event. The reason, according to Transnordestina Logística, responsible for the project, is the absence of the Ibama operation license, an essential document for the freight train to make its first trip on this Friday (10/24/2025).
The inaugural trip would depart from Bela Vista do Piauí heading towards Iguatu, in Ceará, marking a new chapter in the history of Brazilian railway infrastructure.
However, Ibama confirmed that technical and documentation issues prevented the release of the license.
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Environmental Issues Delay The Start Of Operations
The environmental agency reported that there are still flaws in the licensing process, including the absence of a risk management program and the lack of a statement from Incra regarding the railway’s passage through quilted lands.
These requirements need to be resolved before the issuance of the final license.
According to the Ministry of Integration and Regional Development, the event was confirmed until Wednesday (10/22/2025), when the government of Piauí announced the inaugural trip.
The suspension, announced the following day, surprised managers and authorities who were monitoring the schedule.
A Project That Has Dragged On For Almost Two Decades
The Transnordestina is one of the most emblematic projects in the transportation sector in the country. Launched in 2006, during the first term of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the railway was planned to have 1,700 kilometers of extension, connecting Eliseu Martins (PI) to the ports of Pecém (CE) and Suape (PE).
Initially, the investment was estimated at R$ 4.5 billion, with completion expected by 2010. Today, the scenario is very different: the cost has jumped to R$ 15 billion, the route has been reduced to 1,200 kilometers, and the new delivery forecast is 2029.
Biddings, Paralysis And Increase In Costs
Since the beginning, the railway has faced a series of bureaucratic, contractual, and financial hurdles.
The Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) even suspended the transfer of federal funds on two occasions, which caused long periods of paralysis — including a gap of five years of practically halted works.
Land issues and changes in the route also impacted the project. The railway, which originally would pass through 81 municipalities, had part of its route abandoned.
In December 2022, the responsible company returned the concession of the section between Salgueiro and Suape, leaving that part without continuity.
The TCU is now analyzing the possibility of including the segment in the new PAC (Growth Acceleration Program).
Experts Point Out Flaws In Project Management
According to Paulo Resende, coordinator of the Logistics Center at Fundação Dom Cabral, the lack of continuity and consistent planning explains much of the problems faced.
“The dynamics of cargo, the dynamics of logistics change over the years. So, when you have major interruptions, there is no continuity or fluidity in the development of the project. We discover things that could have been resolved a long time ago and now cause interruptions,” says the expert.
Expectations For The Future Of The Railway
Even with delays and rising costs, the federal government maintains the Transnordestina as one of the main axes of logistical integration in the Northeast.
When completed, the railway is expected to boost the flow of grains and minerals to the region’s ports, reducing transportation costs and strengthening the competitiveness of the local economy.
However, as long as environmental and technical issues persist, the inauguration will remain without a confirmed date — further prolonging a story that began nearly twenty years ago and that, so far, continues without fully operational tracks.
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