Brazil signs US$150mn river clearance contract

Brazil's federal government has signed a 521mn-real (US$150mn) contract with a consortium led by construction company DTA Engenharia for rock-removal work along a 43km stretch of the Tocantins river in Pará state, according to national transport infrastructure department (DNIT) tender documents.

The consortium, 98.6% owned by DTA and 1.4% by machines and equipment supplier O'Martin Serviços e Locação, won the tender that was launched by DNIT in 4Q15.

The 58-month project, which includes carrying out studies as well as civil works, will ensure year-round navigability of a 140m-wide stretch of the river between the towns of Marabá and Tucuruí.

The route will be used to transport agricultural, livestock and mineral freight from neighboring states to Pará's Vila do Conde grain terminal, located some 500km from Marabá, according to DNIT.

By 2025, the port, along with the 500km stretch known as the Araguaia-Tocantins waterway, should have capacity of 20Mt/y.

The contract was signed by transport minister Maurício Quintella, national integration minister Hélder Barbalho and DNIT executives on Thursday in the city of Marabá.