Author(s)

LUIS EDUARDO BENTES DIAS, JUSSARA SOCORRO CURY MACIEL

Abstract

This paper purposes to offer a systematic analysis of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas hydro fluvial transport infrastructure in the state of Amazonas, Brazil and its implications in the municipality supplies and to Amazon development. It aims to highlight the improving infrastructure importance for the expansion of this product to the State economy, besides the logistical problems of this type of transportation. Each year the drought leads to reduced water levels, and interrupted the regular shuttle ferries in some state rivers. Data was collected from a Liquefied Petroleum Gas company that serves the entire state of Amazonas and, with the information collected, it was possible to observe the municipalities consume and understand the possible causes. This study proposes some alternative solutions, which may contribute to broader debates and also signal to urge the evaluation of logistics alternatives that meet the business particularities, respecting the environment and communities in the region. However, this methodology analyzed the cities served by the gas supply in 2016, selecting those with higher and lower consumption to check the real reasons involved beyond the population amount. It was also analyzed the reason each city consumes such demand of this product and each case relation with the transport infrastructure so that the product could reach the final consumer. Analyzing the LP Gas consumption data of the five largest and smaller municipalities, it is clear that cities that are in the pipeline of the Solimões-Amazonas Waterway are those that have a higher and efficient supply of LP Gas. Nevertheless, it was presented at a certain time of the year that this transport type becomes unfeasible due to change in river levels. Therefore, an improved system of cabotage is necessary where the vessels came to a certain municipality and could have a strategic base for the redistribution through hydrofluvial transportation or even rural roads.

Keywords

fluvial transport, amazonas, GLP