The new president of the National Association of Railway Transporters (ANTF), Gustavo Bambini, says that his priorities will be the search for tax benefits for diesel for trains and the renewal of the terms of the network's concession contracts.
Bambini, who replaced Rodrigo Vilaça as of May, says that energy companies and those in the port sector have already gone through discussions with the government about renewing concessions in exchange for more investment, but the railroads have not yet. “We are entering the second half of the concession terms. It is an opportune time to hold that debate,” he said. Bambini claims that there are already discussions in the government about exchanging investments for a longer concession period.
The president of the association does not comment on specific cases of each company, but in the sector it is already known that América Latina Logística (ALL), for example, talks with the government about the renewal of concessions. The Cosan group, which signed an agreement for the merger of its subsidiary Rumo with ALL, has already informed its executives that the extension of the term is important for structuring the company's business and investments in railroads. Three of ALL's four concessions have contracts expiring in 2026, 2027 and 2028. The only railroad owned by ALL with a longer term is Malha Norte (in the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul), which has a concession until 2079. Other concessionaires winning between 2026 and 2028 are MRS, FCA and Transnordestina.
One of the ideas, said Bambini, is that there is an early renewal of these contracts in exchange for an investment program in the network. The assessment of the concession period and other requests are in a document taken by the ANTF to the candidates who are running for the Presidency of the Republic this year.
Another point advocated by the entity is the creation of a tax benefit for the diesel used on the rails, which currently accounts for 30% of the costs of companies. For the association, the cost of diesel became even more worrying after a determination by the National Petroleum Agency, in early 2014, defined that the input would be distributed only in two refineries – Manaus (AM) and Paulínia (SP). According to the ANTF, this measure increased the cost of diesel. The entity requests exemption from PIS and Cofins for diesel, which is 23,63%. “This tax cost is incompatible with the demand for more competitive rail tariffs and with the strategy of expanding the participation of railroads in the Brazilian transport matrix”, says the ANTF.
The executive takes over the entity amid the government's attempts to attract more companies to the sector. According to Bambini, there is concern among concessionaires that new train operators may make it difficult for companies to operate on the current networks. But, according to him, the Logistics Investment Program (PIL, the concessions package) also brings opportunities, mainly because the network becomes more integrated and, with that, generates the opportunity for more business and revenues for the concessionaires.
He also says that the government is trying to attract companies that are currently railroad concessionaires to participate in the tenders for the new stretches. Before, there were doubts as to whether or not the concessionaires could compete for the new lines, since the government will prevent the road concessionaire from moving loads. “The government has said that there is no impediment for the current concessionaire to participate in the auction. To move cargo, it can create a new legal figure, ”she says.
The first auction of railroads by the federal government, which will grant the stretch between Lucas do Rio Verde and Campinorte, only depends on the approval of the Ministry of Transport for it to be carried out. Today, Planalto's only concern is to mark the dispute with the certainty of the presence of interested parties. Currently, discussions are still being held. “We have been discussing with the private sector and trying to understand the aspects of insecurity. This is a sector where things need to be built on the basis of dialogue. The government is listening a lot and also taking its assessments, making it very clear what its policy is and what emphasis it intends to give”, said yesterday the Minister of Transport, Paulo Passos.
The Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) carried out, in recent months, an analysis in which it recommends adjustments, such as reducing the investment forecast for the project. As a result, investment dropped from R$6,3 billion to R$4,9 billion. According to Jean Mafra dos Reis, superintendent of infrastructure and transport services at the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), the final price of the notice “probably” will be an intermediary between these two values.
Bambini and the authorities spoke to Valor during the Brasil nos Trilhos seminar, held by ANTF and the National Association of Rail Passenger Carriers (ANPTrilhos).
Source: Valor Econômico
By: Fabio Pupo and Murillo Camarotto
