Cormagdalena, university studying Magdalena chokepoints

Cormagdalena, the environmental regulator for Colombia's Magdalena department, is working to clear critical shipping lanes along the 1,600km Magdalena river through studies conducted with Colombia's northern university (Universidad del Norte), the regulator announced. Geological and flood-related studies are allowing the regulator to better design clearing and dredging works along the river, as part of the Colombian government's Yuma project. Cormagdalena conducted three dredging projects in Magdalena in the first six months of this year. President Alvaro Uribe expects to spend US$100mn of the 16-year, US$400mn project Yuma during his administration, aiming to enhance transport along the Magdalena river, which while long is subject to sediment buildup and is shallow in places.