Anderson Pomini, president of the Santos Port Authority (APS), presented last Thursday (19th) to the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, documents proving that the entity has available the R$ 2.6 billion necessary to pay its share toward financing the construction of the submerged tunnel that will connect the cities of Santos and Guarujá. Pomini showed Costa Filho that the amount is in accounts held by the port authority at Banco do Brasil.
The transfer of resources by APS is provided for in the terms of the partnership for financing the works signed with the government of the state of São Paulo, which is to contribute the same amount for the project's implementation. Pomini emphasized, however, that APS cannot release the amounts corresponding to its share until it has access to the contract signed by the state with the winning contractor of the bidding for the tunnel's construction and until governance measures are formalized to ensure oversight of the proper application of public funds.
He explained that he is following guidance from the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), an agency he turned to after not having had official access to the contract signed between the contractor and the state government regarding the Santos-Guarujá tunnel. "Since we did not have access to the contract, we went to the TCU and received the response that the state government and APS need to formalize governance measures".
Pomini stated that this condition is fundamental for oversight of federal public resources that will be applied to the work and that, without guarantees, he cannot release the funds. But he assured that joint measures will be taken and that these adjustments will not affect the project schedule.
Agenda
Pomini and Costa Filho were together in an extensive agenda by the minister at Santos Port, which brought together authorities and company representatives for the signing of contracts, announcement of works and detailed information on investments in the Santos port complex. The meeting takes place just days before Costa Filho, who intends to run for reelection as a federal deputy from Pernambuco, leaves his post as head of the Ministry (MPor) to comply with the incompatibility period as provided for in electoral legislation.
Pomini, who has been leading APS since April 2023, is one of the names being floated to assume Costa Filho's vacancy as head of the ministry. Another mentioned, according to sources heard by Portos e Navios, is the current executive secretary of the MPor, Tomé Franca. They claim that, behind the scenes, Pomini is the favored name of the so-called 'more political wing' of the government.
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