FFI (Fortescue Future Industries), the energy arm of the iron ore company Fortescue Metals Group, and Porto do Açu Operações SA, a subsidiary of Prumo Logística, signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) to evaluate the opportunity to develop industrial projects sustainable in Rio de Janeiro.
The companies will conduct studies to enable the installation of a green hydrogen plant, with a capacity of 300 MW, at Porto do Açu, the largest private deep-water industrial port complex in Latin America.
According to FFI, the plant, which has the potential to produce 250 tons of green ammonia per year, is expected to boost the renewable industrialization of the port, including the production of green steel, fertilizers, chemicals, fuels and other cleanly manufactured industrial products. The MOU also lays the groundwork for solar energy development projects at the site, as well as offshore wind in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo.
According to Julie Shuttleworth, CEO of FFI, the company is evaluating renewable energy and green hydrogen opportunities around the world and will lead and drive the sustainable products industry. “The opportunity to establish completely new and future large-scale industries will boost the growth of the Brazilian economy”, highlighted the executive.
“We hope that the potential for new green industries in Açu will substantially diversify, expand and deepen Brazil’s already qualified workforce,” he added.
José Firmo, CEO of Porto do Açu, also commented on the partnership and said that the port is sailing towards the sustainable economy of the future. “One of the pillars of our vision for industrialization is the operational energy transition projects of today and the renewable energy-powered green industries of tomorrow.”
“Açu is a gateway between the growth of the Brazilian economy and the rapid expansion of low-carbon businesses around the world. It is exciting to collaborate with an international partner of this caliber on such a visionary project. This will be the first green hydrogen plant in the country and will place FFI and Açu at the forefront of clean energy production and green industrialization in Brazil”, concluded the executive.
