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The return of the railroad is near! Businessmen are pressuring Vale to build a gigantic railroad, guaranteeing more infrastructure and investments. The government is demanding urgency, and the project could transform the region's logistics.
The construction of a large railway in Espírito Santo, known as Ramal Anchieta, is becoming a real battle between businessmen and the mining company Vale.
The project, which aims to connect Santa Leopoldina to Anchieta, in the south of the state, has been defended by key figures in the local economy and politics, who believe that the work is vital for the growth of the region and the attraction of investments.
What was previously a commitment between Vale and the state government alone is now taking on the form of a requirement, with businesspeople pushing for the construction of the railway to become mandatory by contract.
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Anchieta Branch as a priority: a milestone for the local economy
The initiative to transform the construction of the Anchieta Branch into a contractual obligation has gained momentum in recent months, with a growing movement among businesspeople and state authorities.
The superintendent of Railway Transport at the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), Alessandro Baumgartner, revealed that the addendum to include the work in the contract for the renewal of the concession of the Vitória a Minas Railway (EFVM) and Carajás is already underway.
The renewal of these concessions is a strategic opportunity to include the project, which, until now, was just a voluntary commitment between the mining company and the government of Espírito Santo.
The director of the Anchieta Business Association, José Carlos Lima, stated that the only way to speed up construction is to make the project a contractual requirement.
“It has to be a contractual commitment. The railway needs to be built as soon as possible. It is an important investment for our municipality,” Lima highlighted, showing the urgency of a definitive solution for the work.
According to him, the construction of the Anchieta Branch represents a fundamental step towards improving infrastructure and, consequently, the region's competitiveness on the national scene.
The importance of the railway for industrial and logistical development
The construction of the Anchieta Branch is also seen as an opportunity to revitalize the South of the State, a region lacking investment in infrastructure.
Business consultant and president of Guarapari em Ação, Durval Vieira de Freitas, highlighted that the railway, together with Porto Central, can transform the region into a strategic industrial hub.
“It (the region) is lacking in infrastructure. This railway, together with Porto Central, will allow the region to attract industrial investments that will bring development to the state,” stated.
The impact of the railway is not limited to the industrial sector alone.
The mayor of Anchieta, Léo Portugal, was also enthusiastic about the project, stating that the work will not only improve local logistics, but will also be an important step towards the creation of a passenger terminal, vital for the growth of tourism and commerce in the region.
The tax reform, according to the mayor, brings with it the challenge of increasing the tourist and commercial attractiveness of Anchieta, which could be facilitated by a more efficient transport system.
The call for a firm commitment: businessmen and politicians united
In his speech, Fernando Otávio, president of the Brazilian Hotel Industry Association of Espírito Santo (ABIH-ES) and Secretary of Tourism of Guarapari, also joined the chorus of voices calling for the transformation of the construction of the Ramal Anchieta into a contractual obligation.
“It is necessary to have a definition of what the investment will happen and when, as delays hinder the development of the municipalities where the railway will pass,” explained Otávio, highlighting the positive impact that the work would bring not only to Anchieta, but to other cities along the route.
The State's deputy governor, Ricardo Ferrado, was one of the most emphatic in demanding that Vale be held accountable.
He asked the mining company to release investment in the railway, considering that all deadlines of the commitment signed between the company and the state government had already expired.
“The federal government, ANTT and the Ministry of Transport need to bring Vale into line,” said Ferrado, highlighting the lack of fulfillment of promises made by the mining company.
Vale remains silent about the future of the project
So far, Vale has chosen not to comment publicly on the progress of the work and the pressure it is receiving.
The mining company has maintained its position that studies for the extension of the Vitória a Minas Railway, which would connect Santa Leopoldina to Anchieta, have been underway since 2020.
However, so far, what we have seen is that the work is still the result of a voluntary commitment by the company to the state government., without a defined deadline for its completion.
Voluntary commitment versus pressures for mandatory commitment: the current scenario
In July 2023, Vale and the state government released a schedule for the construction of the railway, with an expected 80-kilometer trunk line and a connection to the Port of Ubu, in addition to a 20-kilometer railway yard.
The project seemed to be at an advanced stage, but, so far, the work has not yet left the drawing board.
The delay has generated growing discontent among businesspeople and the state government, who consider the situation a lost opportunity for the growth of the local economy.
Delays and bureaucratic obstacles in the process
Deputy Governor Ricardo Ferrado harshly criticized Vale during a recent business event, highlighting that the environmental studies required for the project had been ready for six months, but had not yet been filed with Ibama.
This delay is preventing the progress of the work and putting the development of the region at risk.
To speed up the process, Ferrado suggested that the authority to approve studies be transferred from Ibama to the State Environmental Institute (Iema), with the aim of making the process more agile and less bureaucratic.
The future of the railway in Espírito Santo: a strategic issue
The Anchieta Branch, if built, could represent a milestone for the development of Espírito Santo, especially in the South of the State.
The railway has the potential to improve regional logistics and infrastructure, as well as attract new industrial and tourism investments.
However, the lack of a firm commitment and delays in bureaucratic procedures may put these benefits at risk.
Now, with pressure from businesspeople and demands from the state government, the fate of the Anchieta Branch seems to be increasingly at the center of discussions about the economic future of the region.
With such an important project at stake, it is crucial that Vale and the authorities involved reach an agreement that allows the construction of the railway without further delay.
Espírito Santo hopes that, finally, the Ramal Anchieta will come to fruition and become a reality that will benefit not only the State, but the entire country.
I have repeatedly said that Brazil urgently needs to rebuild and build railroads for passenger and cargo trains. Brazil has been stagnant for half a century in this mode of transportation, which is prioritized almost 100% by most nations. We, the people of Minas Gerais, want to visit beaches, and we prioritize the beaches of Espírito Santo. We have the Vitória/Minas TRAIN, a luxury in terms of cost, safety, comfort, punctuality. If there are more schedules and a reduction in travel time, it will be a boom. Just imagine how the economy of the municipalities will improve, tourism, passengers, beaches on weekends in a round trip, revenue for the municipalities, job creation... all of Brazil needs TRAINS, YESTERDAY, TODAY, tomorrow is getting late.
Like highways, railways in Brazil will only make sense if they are nationally integrated. This will favor freight transport and rail tourism, which is also an important and safe form of transport.