Senator Zequinha Marinho Criticizes TCU's Suspension Recommendation of Ferrogrão Railway Project

Senator Zequinha Marinho from Podemos-PA voiced strong opposition to the Tribunal de Contas da União’s (TCU) recommendation to suspend the Ferrogrão railway project. During a speech in the Senate on Monday, he emphasized that halting this critical infrastructure undertaking would jeopardize private investments and delay essential logistic improvements for Brazil.

The Ferrogrão project is designed to transport agricultural production from Brazil’s Central-West region to the North, aiming to ease logistical bottlenecks that currently hamper the nation's agribusiness sector. Marinho described Ferrogrão as Brazil’s most significant infrastructure project, particularly at a time when the private sector shows eagerness to invest and the country urgently needs to modernize its transport networks.

Highlighting the severe logistical challenges faced by transport workers, Marinho pointed to long wait times and poor conditions at the port of Miritituba. He noted the economic losses resulting from these delays and criticized Brazil’s heavy reliance on road transport, which carries approximately 65% of cargo despite only 12.4% of roads being paved. Over 60% of the road network is classified as regular, poor, or terrible, making long-distance grain transport by truck inefficient and environmentally unsustainable.

Marinho argued that postponing the railway auction, initially scheduled for September, would represent a setback for advancing Brazil's infrastructure and logistics, essential for supporting the country’s agricultural competitiveness and reducing environmental impacts associated with road freight.

The Senator’s remarks encapsulate concerns over the TCU’s recommendation, viewing it as a barrier to much-needed investment and modernization in Brazil’s transport infrastructure, vital for its agricultural economy.