Brazil prosecutors say blasting at Paranagua port should be halted pending death probe

China Merchants Port Holdings

07/03/2024 24:19

By Ana Mano
       SAO PAULO, March 6 (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors in
Brazil have recommended that the country's environment agency
Ibama suspend blasting work in the bay of Paranagua port pending
an investigation into the death of a diver, according to a
statement on Wednesday. 
    The statement called on Ibama to immediately suspend the
license it had granted for the blasting work based on "possible
non-compliance with basic safety rules for people, especially
employees on the work site," as well as potential contamination
of the environment and threats to local marine life. 
    Ibama did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 
    Suspension of the work will likely stall completion of the
blasting project that started in 2021 to deepen the bay. The
public company that runs the port, Portos do Parana, said then
the project would improve navigability and security for ships. 
    Portos do Parana and TCP, the privately owned company that
manages the port's container terminal, said in statements they
are cooperating with the authorities handling the investigation,
without elaborating. 
    TCP, a part of China Merchants Port Group  001872.SZ , is
South America's largest container terminal. 
    Located close to farming and industrialized regions in
southern Brazil, Paranagua is one of country's busiest ports,
together with Santos, in Sao Paulo state. 
    Last year, global grain traders shipped 14.6 million metric
tons of soybeans and 4.1 million tons of corn out of Paranagua,
according to shipping data. 
    The project was budgeted at 23 million reais ($4.7 million).
    
    ($1 = 4.9446 reais)

 (Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Tom Hogue)
 ((ana.mano@thomsonreuters.com; Tel: +55-11-5644-7704; Mob:
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