Brazil Halts Tapajós Dredging Tender as Indigenous Protests Persist

Overview

• The federal government on Feb. 6 suspended Electronic Tender No. 90515/2025 to hire dredging services for the Tapajós River.
• An official note signed by ministers Guilherme Boulos, Sílvio Costa Filho and Sônia Guajajara framed the suspension as a negotiation step.
• Authorities stated the planned dredging is routine maintenance unrelated to concession studies under Decree 12.600.
• The government is sending representatives to Santarém with Federal Prosecutor’s Office oversight and is creating an interministerial working group with Indigenous participation, plus a timetable for consultations.
• Protests at Cargill’s terminal and nearby routes continue as Indigenous leaders demand a formal amendment or revocation of Decree 12.600 published in the Official Gazette before leaving.