Logistics complex project in Cubatão remains undecided

The implementation of a retroport logistics complex in Cubatão, in the Baixada Santista region, remains undecided. The project is part of a plan by the Santos Port Authority (APS) to create four such facilities in Guarujá, São Vicente, Santos, and Cubatão, with the aim of organizing the flow of trucks arriving in the port region.

The site initially considered for the project is on Ilha do Tatu. After the tender, the City of Cubatão and civil society representatives opposed the location, citing possible environmental and urban impacts. In response, the municipality offered other sites, mainly in the Industrial District, but the exact locations have not yet been disclosed.

The discussion advanced through meetings held in Brasília and Cubatão. In March, APS president Anderson Pomini and Cubatão mayor Cesar Nascimento discussed alternatives for the project. The port authority said it would jointly assess the areas indicated by the municipality while environmental licensing was under way.

The municipal secretary of Industry, Port, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Fabrício Lopes, later said that negotiations remained open. According to him, the municipality was awaiting a counterproposal from APS and also intended to hear the company that won the tender about the possibility of installing the operation in an industrial area.

In the configuration presented by APS, the Ilha do Tatu complex would have access to the Anchieta and Imigrantes highways and would operate as a regulatory yard for access to the Port of Santos. The planned structure includes earthworks, paving, drainage, lighting, fencing, and support services for truck drivers.

The sources present different parameters for the project. BE News reports an area of 106,637 square meters, capacity for 500 spaces by 2028, a 35-year concession, and total investment of R$ 3 billion. Portos e Navios mentions a 32-year concession starting in 2028 and estimates 550 direct jobs and annual revenues of R$ 24.2 million in ISS and R$ 1.5 million in IPTU.

Implementation will depend on environmental licensing, including studies, environmental compensation, and programs to monitor fauna, air quality, noise, and waste. While the alternatives are being analyzed, the location and continuation of the project remain undecided.