Envoy elicits Korea’s ’4 Rivers’ for Paraguayan river plan

By Philip Iglauer

A waterway that links the heart of South America with the Atlantic Ocean could grant an outlet to the sea to landlocked Paraguay and Bolivia, a financial boost to Brazil's poor western region, increased exports for Argentina, and a renovated, international port for Uruguay.

The plan had been plagued by controversy for over a decade, however, and criticism by engineers, scientists and regional environmental opponents stalled river development indefinitely.

That may now change.

Paraguay is looking to Korea’s experience in its “Four Rivers Project” for advice on revitalizing a new South American plan that accommodates environmental impacts and seeks an eco-friendly “sustainable development” approach to developing one of the largest river systems in the world, dubbed the “Mississippi of South America.”

“They have a lot of experience regarding people and the environment, and especially in construction technology,” said Paraguayan Ambassador to Korea Ceferino Adrian Valdez Peralta. “They have the technology and the know-how in dredging a waterway with the utmost respect for the environment, which is important to us, especially with regard to the people living along the river and in the surrounding area, the fishermen who live from the river.”

Eliciting Korea’s expertise could not have come at a more crucial time.

Peralta said the country’s export sector is hemorrhaging financially because the Paraguay River is clogged, rendered virtually untraversable.

“We are literally losing millions of dollars a day because goods cannot get in or out right now,” he said.

After a feasibility study is completed, an initial $40 million project aimed at relieving congestion and upgrading navigation systems will be open to international bidding.

This initial and short-term project is a drop in the bucket of a gigantic international development plan for the greater riparian system, but could represent an entry for Korean firms and billions of dollars in contracts down the line.

“My hope is that Korean companies can participate fully in this project,” Peralta said.

But development of the river as a transportation route has been confounded by environmental concerns upstream.

The world's largest wetland, the Pantanal, could be ruined by the construction of the waterlink. Sprawling over 53,000 square miles in Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, the Pantanal is home to 650 species of birds, 250 varieties of fish and more than 90,000 types of plants.

That’s why Paraguayan officials have turned to Korean experts in the hopes of gleaning what they have learned from Korea’s experience in its “Four Rivers Project,” the completion of which will be marked in an official ceremony in March.

With this improved waterway system in place, the lower costs of transportation would make the regional industry more competitive in world markets, spur economic growth in the region, and create additional employment throughout the area. Paraguay's capital city of Asuncion would become a major inland port benefiting exporters of cattle, cotton, and the country’s extensive soybean crop.

The larger river development project will expand Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia and Paraguay's navigation possibilities on the Parana and Paraguay rivers, which is considered South America's second most important river way system.

The Hidrovia Intergovernmental Commission, an international organization set up to develop the two rivers, met as recently as October last year in Buenos Aires.

Specifically, the initial project will dredge the river to a minimum 3 meters, enhance visibility for transportation along the river, and apply new navigation technology for logistics companies.

Peralta said there is a lot Paraguayans can learn from Korea’s “Four Rivers Project."

Korean participation is key, Peralta said. “The work you see there is amazing. One thing that impressed me was the fish channels built so the fish don’t get trapped,” he said. “What is foremost in my mind is the development of the river in a sustainable way.”

Alleviating environmental concerns could be the key to re-starting the larger river development project.

“The government has the greatest priority for giving its attention to the needs of the rural people and nature and in particular the fishermen and for the cities located along the river,” he said.

“The Paraguayan people belong to the Guarani. Our god is nature, by our belief, practice and way of life, this makes us an environment-protecting people,” he said.

ephilip2011@koreatimes.co.kr