The National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ) has issued a public consultation on the concession project for the Paraguay River Waterway.
The Paraguay River Waterway comprises the stretch between Corumbá (MS) and the mouth of the Apa River, located in the municipality of Porto Murtinho (MS), and the bed of the Tamengo Canal, in the stretch within the city of Corumbá. The total length of the project is 600 km. In the first five years of the concession, dredging, demolition, adequate marking, and signaling services will be carried out, as well as the construction of an industrial warehouse, acquisition of a dredge, hydrological monitoring and hydrographic surveys, improvements to crossings and convoy dismemberment points, and implementation of waterway traffic management systems, including Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) and River Information Service (RIS), in addition to river intelligence services. These improvements will ensure safe and reliable navigation. The estimated direct investment in these first years is BRL 63.8 million (USD 10.3 million). The contractual term of the concession is 15 years with the possibility of extension for the same period.
Under the proposed model, a fee will only be applied to cargo movement once the concessionaire fulfills the services outlined in the contract's first phase. No charges will apply to passenger or small cargo transportation. The preliminary tariff is estimated at R$1.27 per ton of cargo. Post-concession cargo transport on the Paraguay River is projected to reach 25–30 million tons annually by 2030, a substantial rise compared to current levels. In 2023 the waterway transported 7.95 million tons, marking a 72.57% increase from 2022. In 2023, waterways handled over 157 million tons of cargo, representing nearly 10% of all waterway transport during that period. This volume highlights significant growth potential, and efforts to attract private investment align intending to improve national logistics efficiency. Following the concession, the waterway will maintain a draft of 3 meters during high water levels and 2 meters in dry periods, ensuring year-round navigability for vessels or at least for the majority of the year.
