Port of Açu and Yamna sign agreement for green ammonia project in Brazil
Port of Açu Operações and YamnaCo Ltd (Yamna) have entered into a land reservation agreement to establish a green ammonia project within the new low-carbon hydrogen hub at the Port of Açu industrial complex in northeast Rio de Janeiro State.
The agreement secures two million square meters for green hydrogen initiatives, supplementing the one million square meters already licensed at the Brazilian port.
Port of Açu, a privately owned venture of Prumo Logística and Port of Antwerp-Bruges International, is one of Brazil’s key oil and gas export hubs, handling 40% of the nation’s oil exports. The port is also active in mining and port logistics and is now expanding its role in the energy transition by developing an integrated low-carbon economy platform.
“We are thrilled to welcome Yamna to Port of Açu for their first green ammonia project in Brazil and look forward to working closely with Yamna to ensure the success of this initiative, which will further position the port as a leader in green hydrogen and ammonia production,” stated Mauro Andrade, Executive Director of Business Development at Prumo.
Yamna’s proposed plant aims to achieve a production capacity of up to one million tons per year (1MTPA), with a final investment decision targeted by 2027 and production of the first green molecules expected by 2030.
This marks Yamna’s first project in Brazil, aligning with its strategy to develop large-scale green ammonia export facilities in high-potential locations. With abundant renewable energy resources and a strategic position for exports, Brazil provides an ideal environment to scale green ammonia production to meet rising global demand.
Eugenio Figueiredo, CEO of Port of Açu, mentioned: “Porto do Açu offers one of the best infrastructures in the country to sustainably support the decarbonization of the industry, with deep draft, available land with direct access to the quay, and a service cluster bringing together multiple suppliers for port and maritime support. This partnership highlights Açu’s strategic role as a hub for sustainable energy solutions and reflects our commitment to fostering innovative projects that contribute to the global energy transition.” The Port of Açu, as a premier industrial and energy hub, offers the infrastructure and logistics necessary to support this venture, further cementing Yamna’s status as a leader in the green ammonia market.
Kristof Waterschoot, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges International, added: “To become a climate-neutral port in 2050, our partnership with Porto do Açu is invaluable. We see Açu as the flagship project for the set-up of a green corridor, producing and exporting green molecules from Brazil to Belgium. Yamna’s presence at Port of Açu further reinforces the strength of this initiative, exemplifying the kind of pioneering collaboration needed to drive the global energy transition forward. Together, we are proud to be frontrunners in the global energy transition.”
