A Public Meeting was held by the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), last Thursday (20/07/23), with the aim of updating and clarifying aspects of the licensing of Phase 1 of Porto Central , before the start of works. The event took place in the community of Jaqueira, in Presidente Kennedy (ES), the project's headquarters municipality, and brought together approximately 500 citizens, especially residents of Presidente Kennedy, Marataízes (ES), São Francisco de Itabapoana (RJ), Cachoeiro de Itapemirim ( ES), Itapemirim (ES) and Campos (RJ).
The meeting activities began at 6:30 p.m., chaired by the coordinator of the Environmental Licensing Coordination of Ports and Maritime Structures (COMAR), Janaína de Sousa Cunha Motta, who welcomed and explained how the licensing stages took place up to the moment of the meeting and highlighted the importance of this moment of debate.
Afterwards, the Porto Central project manager, Fábio Cretton, presented information about the project, in its engineering aspects and updated schedule. Fábio explained the role of logistics infrastructure, including deep-water ports, for the quality of life of the population that needs access to imported resources and goods, from technology to medicines, and how the project fits into this context. The highlight was the phasing of the MasterPlan (Global Project).
“The Porto Central MasterPlan was licensed by Ibama and is planning for an industrial port condominium designed for the short, medium and long term, which provides infrastructure for customers. Each client interested in having activities within this condominium will have to obtain specific environmental licensing for their activity and have approval from Ibama to install themselves”, informed Fábio.
The project manager also pointed out that the schedule follows five phases, starting Phase 1 operations in 2026, with a predicted peak of 1,295 workers between March and April 2025, and adopting local labor as a priority, or that is, residents of municipalities within the project’s area of influence. The works in this stage are basically dredging, for a 26 kilometer channel, evolution basin and berth areas; south breakwater and Jetty (pier).
“The beginning of everything is the suppression of vegetation in an area close to the beach for the implementation of the construction site. Two berths will be built to the east and then two berths to the west. Part of the sand removed when dredging the channel will be used in the tombolo and soil exchange below where the rocky part of the south breakwater will be located, offering stability for the structures and, consequently, a safe docking area for ships. The rocky part will come from a quarry called Núbia, 27 km from the project, closer to those previously planned, reducing the impact of transport and passing through fewer communities: Santo Eduardo and Santana Feliz”, described Fábio.
The anticipated timeline for Phase 1:
- Vegetation suppression: October to December 2023.
- Land works: January to June 2024 and March to September 2025.
- Dredging: December 2023 to September 2025.
- Hybrid breakwater: December 2023 to October 2025.
- Jetty and berths: May 2024 to September 2025.
- Navy approval: September 2025 to March 2026.
- Test, operator, approvals, licenses (LO and others) and contingency: October 2025 to July 2026.
- Start of operations: July 2026.
Other phases
The following image shows the schedule for the other phases of the Masterplan.
Social and Environmental
Porto Central's socio-environmental manager, Sueli Tonini, explained that there are eight project programs focused on socio-economics to enhance opportunities for the local population. “The idea is to have strong programs to prepare the region for future stages, achieve the target of 70% hiring of local labor and increase citizen participation in shaping development strategies, through Social Participation Forums, which already have broad representation. And we encourage more groups to organize and formalize themselves to collaborate in this collective construction and monitor it to even know the best time to make investments.”
Sueli also highlighted that, for forest compensation, there are more than a thousand hectares (ha) of forest recovery, with more than 700 ha in already defined areas. For the rest of the areas, he added, there will be compensation through an agreement with the Government of ES, within the scope of the Reflorestar program.
As for compensation from the National System of Conservation Units (SNUC), the compensatory resources are under destination definition, but with a view to directing part of them to the Conservation Unit (UC) Natural Monument (MONA) Serra das Torres, in Mimoso do South (ES), and for UC Municipal Foz do Itabapoana (under creation), in Presidente Kennedy, final definition to be made by the federal council.
Another point presented were the socio-environmental programs: Continental Programs, Marine Programs, Socio-economic Programs and Environmental Emergencies, with emphasis on the six lines of actions of the Environmental Education Program, which involve the community, workers, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, health and safety, fishing compensation and even heritage education aimed at raising awareness and defending the culture and historical heritage of the region.
Find out more about socio-environmental management programs
The manager also pointed out that the internal area of the project to be excavated is not close to the Church of Nossa Senhora das Neves. “Porto donated 5 hectares around the Church and set aside another 21 hectares as a buffer zone, 4 hectares of which were green belts on site. The interventions will respect the agreed limits, always in alignment with the Diocese and the bodies defending historical and cultural heritage, with goals to protect the church.”
Given the “fishing” issue as the biggest concern raised in the field, especially during the cycle of preparatory meetings, to provide more clarification on the main impacts identified for the sector and the measures and programs to be implemented to mitigate these impacts, the meeting included with an explanation of the topic by the technical coordinator responsible for environmental studies, oceanographer Leandro Bonesi.
“In the dredging area, including the 26 km channel, you cannot fish. The bota-fora area will be impaired for fishing during dredging. Passing through the canal is permitted, following the rules of the Brazilian Navy. The communities directly affected will receive compensation, and monitoring of fishing landings is already being carried out. Among the programs to mitigate impacts will be implemented: Social Communication; Professional Training; Monitoring of Fishing Activities and Compensation of Fishing Activities”, said Leandro.
The event ended at 11:30 pm, after everyone present had expressed their opinion and responded to the questions.
Additional information:
Areas of Influence
Location: Município de Presidente Kennedy (ES), cerca de 150 Km da capital Vitória, e próximo ao limite com o Município de São Francisco de Itabapoana (RJ).
AID: Presidente Kennedy (ES); Marataízes (ES); Barra de São Francisco (São Francisco de Itabapoana/RJ).
AII: Cachoeiro de Itapemirim (ES); Itapemirim (ES); Campos de Goytacazes (RJ)
Important Note:
Holding this Public Meeting is a mitigation measure required by Ibama. It is part of compliance with condition 2.2 of LI 1436/2023 of Phase 1 of Porto Central, referenced to LP 498/2014 of the Global Project (Masterplan) and in accordance with Official Letter 175/23 – Ibama.
Ibama's service to citizens. Green Line – 0800 061 8080.
Porto Central reporting channel: 0800 517-1045