President Rousseff says government is sure logistics will make country grow

Criado em 12/08/13 19h01 e atualizado em 12/08/13 19h24
Por Danilo Macedo Edição:s Fonte:Agência Brasil

Brasília – President Dilma Rousseff said on Monday (August 12) that the government trusts in the new logistics, which will promote the growth of the country. During the inauguration ceremony of the first section of the Ribeirão Preto-Paulínia Logistical System of Ethanol, in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, she affirmed that the country needs investments in this sector so that competition is ensured.

“This section we’re inaugurating today is part of a great effort the country is making to modernize its logistical structure, and to make sure that this element can really promote the country’s development. We need this not only to carry the products around; not only because it’s the most competitive way – but because this is the crucial element, that will make the country grow,” the president said.

The 206-kilometer pipeline will convey ethanol from the Ribeirão Preto Terrestrial Terminal to the Refinery of Paulínia, and will be operated by Transpetro, affiliated with Petrobras. It is the first element in a network of pipelines that will connect major productive regions to refineries and consumer markets.

“The new plant is an innovative project that brings about the integration of pipelines and waterways. It shows that Brazil has, through the integration of different modes of transportation, one of the essential elements necessary to ensure Brazil’s competition,” Rousseff explained.

According to Rousseff, railway and road construction licenses are one of the main guidelines set by the government to repair Brazil’s outdated logistical system.

“By means of [these licenses], our plan is to expand railways by 10,000 km and duplicate 7.500 km of roads. Brazil doesn’t have a railway system compatible with its size,” the president said. She also announced that railway licenses will be granted between August 2013, and April 2014.

São Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin, a member of the greatest party opposing Rousseff’s administration, took part in the inauguration ceremony and mentioned the importance of the project to the sugar and alcohol sector and emphasized the partnership between different governmental spheres. “What I want to underscore is that, when federative organizations unite, the country benefits, and when we all unite with the entrepreneurs and the workers, the country benefits even more greatly. It’s a day to celebrate a great victory.” The state of São Paulo is the largest producer, and engages 1.3 million workers.

The project had its first section inaugurated on Monday (August 12), and will have around 13,000 km of waterways. The project will include 15 collecting and distributing terminals and its transportation capacity is 20 million m³ of ethanol per year, apart from its storage capacity – 1.2 million m³ of ethanol. When the construction of the pipeline is concluded, it will go through 45 municipalities, connecting the states of Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo to the Paulínia storage center, Brazil’s main center, from which ethanol will be conveyed to the metropolitan regions of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, as well as Porto de Santos, for exportation purposes. The project’s investment was US$ 3.08 billion, sponsored the Brazilian Development Bank (“BNDES”) and commercial banks.

Editors: Beto Coura / Olga Bardawil
Translators: Fabrício Ferreira / Olga Bardawil