Brazil's Supreme Court upholds law clearing way for Ferrograo railway project
By Reuters
May 22, 20266:16 AM GMT+8Updated 5 hours ago
A drone view shows the Brazilian Supreme Court, the National Congress and the Planalto Palace at the Square of the Three Powers, in Brasilia, Brazil August 1, 2025. REUTERS/Adriano Machado Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
BRASILIA, May 21 (Reuters) - Brazil's Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a 2017 law approved by Congress regarding the Ferrograo railway project, allowing the enterprise for the country's grain exports to move forward despite environmental concerns.
Lawmakers had approved a bill in 2017 to reduce the size of the Jamanxim National Park, enabling the passage of the railroad designed to move soybeans and corn more efficiently to a port in the northern Para state.
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But the left-leaning PSOL party challenged the law to the Supreme Court over concerns the project would hurt local communities in states such as Mato Grosso, in the center-west region, and Para.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court with an eight-vote majority rejected the challenge after resuming a trial paused since October. One justice only partially agreed with the majority, while another justice rejected the law.
The court stressed that its ruling does not immediately authorize construction of the railway, which will still need to go through a series of administrative and bureaucratic steps, such as obtaining licenses from the relevant authorities.
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The project, which stretches almost 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), had been a key goal for the Infrastructure Ministry under former President Jair Bolsonaro, but was halted due to discussions at the Federal Audit Court and the Supreme Court.
"Ferrograo is expected to reduce logistics costs, decrease reliance on road transport, and boost the international competitiveness of Brazilian soybeans and corn," Aprosoja, an association representing grain growers, said.
Indigenous organizations COIAB and UMIAB said on Thursday before the ruling that upholding the 2017 law would be a "coup" against the local communities.
