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According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the project to privatize the Port of Santos (SP) should cost R$ 18,5 billion in investments and resources to improve the terminal's operation
The privatization of the Port of Santos (SP), previously scheduled for July, should finally be sent for evaluation by the Federal Court of Auditors (TCU), after being approved by the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq) last Monday (12) . According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the project should cost R$ 18,5 billion in investments and resources to improve the operation of the terminal, which is the largest in the country.
How will the privatization process of the Port of Santos (SP) take place?
The privatization project for the Port of Santos (SP) must be authorized by the Special Secretariat for the Investment Partnership Program (PPI), of the Ministry of Economy, before going through the TCU for analysis of the financial aspects. According to the proposal approved by Antaq, the concession will last 35 years, with the possibility of being extended for another five.
The BRL 18,5 billion for the project to privatize the Port of Santos (SP) will be divided as follows: BRL 6,3 billion in new investments, BRL 2,1 billion of which are earmarked for port infrastructure and BRL 4,2 billion for the execution of an underwater tunnel to connect the cities of Santos and Guarujá. The auction must be carried out according to the criterion of the highest grant value. Antaq established the minimum auction value at R$ 3,01 billion.
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The Minister of Infrastructure, Marcelo Sampaio, still in the first half of 2022, said that the expectation was that the TCU would approve the draft of the public notice within a period of 60 to 70 days. With that, the auction could take place until the end of the year. However, the deadline became much tighter, considering also that the result of the presidential elections may contribute to changes in the progress of the project.
How is the privatization of the Port of Santos (SP) seen by the population?
The concession to privatization is seen positively by businessmen in the sector and users of the port. According to Roberto Guimarães, Director of Planning and Economy at the Brazilian Base Industry Association (Abdib), privatization favors the service offered, benefiting all users. However, the support has reservations, especially regarding the market power that the future terminal concessionaire would have.
The president of the Brazilian Association of Port Terminals (ABTP), Jesualdo Silva, stated that, given the complexity of the Port of Santos (SP), and considering its relevance to the country's economy, it is necessary that the privatization takes place very carefully. It is extremely important that some care be taken in the process of transition to the concessionaire, with the aim of avoiding market concentration, smoothing out possible conflicts of interest and guaranteeing the legal security of leasing contracts and other operating contracts with various economic agents in force.
Jesualdo Silva also concluded that ABTP understands that privatization is an important tool to bring efficiency, reduce bureaucracy and investments to the sector, but without sacrificing the performance and expectations of private agents, who have been the main responsible for investments in the sector.
Discover the Port of Santos (SP)
O Port of Santos (SP) It is the largest port complex in Latin America, responsible for handling almost a third of Brazilian trade. The port has high standards of efficiency in providing services and a permanent process of evolution, through the implementation of infrastructure, use of new technologies, training of its workers and a port management model that fully meets the expectations of its customers.
This guarantees continuous increases in cargo handling and creates a suitable environment for Brazilian trade, which generates around 33 jobs, development for the Baixada Santista and provides quality of life for the entire region.
