RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Due to the drought affecting the Paraná river, coordinated operations have been undertaken by the binational Itaipu and Yacyretá dams to open the discharge flows and allow navigability. Additionally, the rainfall of the past few weeks has increased the flow.
At present there are some 170,000 tons to be transported by river, according to the agro-export sector’s estimates.
At a meeting of the Foreign Ministry’s Working Group on Regulation of the Paraná River Flow, the river situation was analyzed and the need to initiate dredging works to minimize the impacts of a potential low water flow was emphasized, currently in the bidding process by the Ministry of Public Works (MOPC).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that 80% of Paraguay’s foreign trade is transported by river, therefore monitoring the navigability of the river affected by a low water level was considered essential.
The working group comprises representatives of the Foreign Ministry, the National Administration of Navigation and Ports, the General Directorate of Merchant Marine, the National Directorate of Hydrology and Meteorology, Paraguayan technicians from the Itaipú and Yacyretá Binationals, the National Electricity Administration, among others, with the assistance of representatives of exporters’ associations, ports and river shipowners.