In a unanimous decision, Brazil's Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) has halted the disbursement of R$ 2.6 billion in federal funds intended for the construction of the immersed tunnel between Santos and Guarujá, located on the coast of São Paulo. The ruling bars the Port Authority of Santos (APS) from making any financial contributions to the project until the court reaches a new determination. The report, overseen by Minister Bruno Dantas, outlines the requirement for APS to submit a formal governance document regarding the federal funding within 30 days, signed by both the São Paulo government and the Port Authority.

The TCU's decision comes amid ongoing scrutiny over the governance and financing of large-scale infrastructure projects in Brazil. This reflects a growing demand for transparency and accountability, especially within the context of public funding. The court has also extended a previous ruling that imposed similar requirements on both the APS and the National Land Transportation Agency (Antaq), indicating a continued focus on regulatory compliance.

In previous communications from February, Minister Dantas requested updates to the 'sponsored concession contract' to formally include the Port Authority as a consenting intervening party, further emphasizing the intricate governance aspects that must be navigated in such major projects. This ruling underscores the critical balance needed between infrastructure development and fiscal oversight in Brazil's ongoing infrastructural ambitions.