Brazil's Tapajós River dredging plan meets Indigenous opposition and private sector split

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met Indigenous leaders and social movement representatives at the Palácio do Planalto, who asked for an immediate suspension of the emergency dredging planned for the Tapajós River in Pará. The groups demand full environmental licensing and prior consultation, warning that the work could damage fisheries, tourism, sacred sites such as the Santarenzinho area, and community health. They delivered a letter urging the government to protect Amazon rivers.

The federal government classifies the dredging as routine maintenance, arguing that the new licensing law allows automatic interventions on navigable waterways without Ibama approval. Private‑sector bodies, including the CNI infrastructure council, argue the dredging is essential to keep the 280‑km navigation corridor open, citing a risk of three to four months of interruption that could affect the transport of 3.1‑5 million tonnes of soy and corn, with estimated agribusiness losses of R$ 510‑850 million and higher freight costs. They propose removing about one million cubic metres of sediment over 90‑100 days, covering less than 2 % of the river’s length, and are prepared to fund the work while the state monitors it.