Posted on June 15, 2026
By Ana Alice
The Ministry of Ports and Airports reported that the rock removal works at Pedral de Nova Avanhandava, in Buritama, in the interior of São Paulo, have reached the final phase and are expected to be completed by June 2026.
The intervention, budgeted at R$ 293.8 million by the federal government, aims to expand navigation on the Tietê-Paraná waterway, a corridor used for transporting agricultural and industrial cargo between producing regions in the Midwest, Southeast, and the logistics system linked to the Port of Santos.
The project plans to deepen the channel by 3.5 meters over 16 kilometers, with the removal of approximately 552 thousand cubic meters of submerged rocks from the Tietê riverbed.
According to the MPor, the work should allow the circulation of larger convoys with greater regularity, even during drought periods when the reduction of reservoir levels can limit waterway operations.
The intervention is carried out through a partnership between the Ministry of Ports and Airports, the National Department of Transport Infrastructure, Dnit, and the Government of São Paulo.
According to official information released by the federal government, the work is part of the plan to expand the transport capacity on the Tietê-Paraná waterway and receives funds linked to the modernization of waterway infrastructure.
During a technical visit to the site, the Minister of Ports and Airports, Tomé Franca, stated that the expansion of the channel seeks to improve logistical integration and reduce costs in cargo transportation.
“This is a strategic work for the Tietê-Paraná waterway, which increases navigability and integrates different modes, reducing logistical costs and strengthening the competitiveness of Brazilian production, in addition to contributing to more efficient and sustainable transportation,” he said.
Rock removal in Nova Avanhandava seeks to reduce operational restriction
The rock removal in Nova Avanhandava addresses a section identified by public agencies as one of the restrictions on navigation in the Tietê-Paraná waterway.
The area is located near the Nova Avanhandava lock, between municipalities in the Northwest of São Paulo, where submerged rock formations limit the draft of vessels and can affect operations during periods of lower water availability.
The work involves the controlled fragmentation and removal of existing rocks from the riverbed.
With a deeper channel, the government expects to expand the navigation margin and reduce risks of interruption associated with fluctuations in the levels of reservoirs also used for power generation.
Publications from the Government of São Paulo reported that the stretch had already faced stoppages and operational restrictions in previous years, especially in scenarios of water crisis.
In this context, the expansion of the channel has been addressed by federal and state agencies as a measure to increase the predictability of waterway transport.
The presence of rocks in the bed reduces the available depth for vessels when the water level drops.
According to the MPor, the removal of this material should allow convoys to transport more cargo per trip and operate with less exposure to seasonal river variations.
