Brazil to revoke waterway decree after Indigenous protesters occupied Cargill port
Tweet
Share
E-mail
The Cargill logo as indigenous people occupy the Cargill’s Santarem port terminal, to protest against plans to dredge the Tapajos river and move more grains like soy and corn destined for export markets, in Santarem, Brazil, February 23, 2026. REUTERS/A
SANTAREM/BRASILIA, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Brazil has decided to revoke a decree that would have expanded Amazonian waterways in a federal privatization program, a government official said on Monday, a move that follows the occupation of a Cargill port facility on the Tapajos river by Indigenous protesters.
The protesters have said the August decree would open up Amazonian rivers like the Tapajos to dredging, which could impact water quality and the fishing they rely on to survive. Grains such as soy and corn are moved along the rivers before reaching export markets.
Over the weekend, operations at Cargill's Santarem river port terminal in Brazil's Para state were suspended after Indigenous protesters occupied the facility. Before occupying the port terminal, the Indigenous groups had been protesting at the facility’s entrance for weeks.
"Indigenous people have been demonstrating for more than 30 days, questioning the decree and pointing out the effects it could have on their communities," said Guilherme Boulos, the head of the secretariat of Brazil's presidency, as he announced the revocation of the decree.
Protesters at Cargill's Santarem terminal celebrated the announcement, according to a Reuters witness. However, a local leader said the publication of the revocation in the official government gazette would be a condition for them to leave the terminal.
Cargill did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Adriano Machado in Santarem, Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia, Ana Mano and Roberto Samora in Sao Paulo; Writing by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Nia Williams)
Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!
You May Also Be Interested In
- Portugal parliament backs swifter evictions, end of rent caps
- US wants to speed certification of new airplanes
- Vatican envoy discusses humanitarian issues, visits POWs in Russia, Foreign Ministry says
Create E-mail Alert Related Categories
ReutersSign up for StreetInsider Free!
Receive full access to all new and archived articles, unlimited portfolio tracking, e-mail alerts, custom newswires and RSS feeds - and more!
