O projeto de minério de ferro de Carajás: uma análise internacional de custo-benefício

Abstract

This paper presents a cost benefit analysis overview of the Carajas Iron Ore Project (CIOP) in Brazil. The CIOP is an integrated iron ore mine/railway/port project located in the eastern part of the Amazon forest. The project has had important direct and indirect environmental effects which have not been taken into account in the ex-ante national appraisal of the project. Due to the possible transboundary environmental effects of the project, it is argued that this kind of cost should be higher valued by rat international agency compared to the value put by a national development agency. In addition, in the absence of a full monetary valuation of the net environmental impacts of the project, the Krutilla and Fisher (1984) alternative options cost methodology has been adopted_ It is shown that the project is only worthwhile if the maximum shadow price of the environmental damage caused by the project was around US$ 400 million.