Govt ok's new port in Bahia despite pressure from environmentalists

The government has authorized the beginning of the construction of Porto Sul, in the city of Ilhéus, southern Bahia, after the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), connected with the Ministry of the Environment, gave the green light to the undertaking.

Launched in a tourist area that boasts highly diverse fauna and flora, the project has been the motive behind protests staged by environmentalists, who argue that the port will cause an negative impact on both the region's environment and the local conservation units, like the Environment Protection Area of the Encantada Lake and the Almada River, which has already been severely damaged by the disposal of sewage and trash.

Valid for six years, the license issued by Ibama last Friday (Sep 19) lays down the conditions, restrictions and measures to be observed and adopted in order to prevent and minimize pollution and other negative effects on the environment. Overall, the project will entail 29 programs of monitoring, adaptation, prevention, and recovery, whose scope encompasses fishing, training local staff, preventing child abuse, controlling erosion and aggradation, and managing effluents, solid waste and air quality.

In addition to the public terminal, the project  includes the construction of a private terminal, to be controlled by the Bahia-based mining company Bamin, and is to have an external area of 1,224 hectares for the loading and unloading of cargo, and a pier equipped with a breakwater 3.5km from the coast. Integrated to the east-west railroad, the port will be used for the transport of iron ore, soy, ethanol, fertilizers and solid goods.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira