Brazil's first inland waterway concession project in history may face a delay in its schedule. During an interview with the program Bom Dia, Ministro, on Rádio GOV, the Minister of Ports and Airports, Tomé Franca, admitted that the public notice for the Paraná River Waterway concession, initially scheduled to be launched in 2026, may only be published in early 2027.
The main reason for the possible change in timeline is the regulatory complexity of the waterway, which spans approximately 1,270 kilometers and crosses territories of Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. The project requires the development of a shared governance model among the three countries, including definitions on oversight, coordination, regulation, and operational responsibilities.
According to the minister, diplomatic negotiations are advancing, but depend on approval from the respective national parliaments for the legal framework to be effectively implemented.
"We are in very strong and advanced dialogue with Paraguay and Bolivia to establish the regulatory rules. Since the waterway passes through more than one territory, we need to define who coordinates, who regulates, who oversees, and how the contract will function," he explained.
Franca stressed that the government's goal remains to launch the public notice in 2026, but acknowledged that the international legislative process may extend the timelines.
The Paraná River Waterway is considered strategic for the flow of agricultural, mineral, and energy production from Brazil's Center-West region. Currently, the waterway corridor plays a fundamental role in the transport of iron ore, grains, fertilizers, and fuels, connecting the region to international markets.
Another central topic discussed during the interview was the economic model of the concession. The government intends for investments in dredging, signaling, and maintenance of navigability to be financed primarily by major users of the waterway. The proposal seeks to avoid impacts on riparian communities, small vessels, and local users.
According to the minister, the objective is to guarantee operational improvements without transferring costs to the population that uses the river in daily activities.
The modeling also seeks to address criticism that has been made by political sectors and parts of society, which associate the concession with the privatization of Brazilian rivers. The Ministry of Ports and Airports emphasizes that the project provides only for the concession of waterway maintenance and operation services, fully preserving the public character of the river.
"The river remains public, continues to belong to the population. There will be no charges for riparian communities or small vessels," Franca stated.
Behind the scenes in the logistics sector, experts are closely monitoring the project's progress. The future concessionaire will face the challenge of maintaining navigability in a scenario of increasingly frequent climate variations, especially during dry periods that affect the level of the Paraná River.
If materialized, the concession could represent a milestone for national logistics, creating a new model for waterway management and increasing the competitiveness of Brazilian aquatic transport, especially for the agribusiness, mining, and foreign trade sectors.
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