Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
0 comments 
Porto do Pecém Confirms Operator for Green Ammonia Terminal and Moves Forward with Utility Corridor and Pier Adaptations; Anchor Projects Accumulate Goals to Produce and Export Clean Fuels Abroad.
The Pecém Complex (CE) has consolidated new steps to become a national reference in green hydrogen and green ammonia. In June 2025, the port renewed the pre-contract with the consortium Stolthaven/GES to operate the ammonia logistics infrastructure, a central piece of the H₂V Hub. The agreement provides predictability for the engineering phase of the terminal dedicated to export.
In the meantime, the federal government and the Complex are advancing in infrastructure works with the creation of a utility corridor featuring ammonia, hydrogen, natural gas, water, and electricity pipelines, as well as adaptations to Pier 2 to handle H₂V derivatives. These interventions prepare the port for industrial-scale operation.
On the industrial side, AES Brasil filed an EIA/Rima for a project capable of producing up to 800,000 t/year of green ammonia, supported by approximately 2.5 GW of renewable energy. The project is expected to be located in the ZPE Ceará (Sector 2), within the Pecém Complex, and foresees thousands of jobs during the construction phase.
-
Weak dollar or strong real? The American currency plummets for the third day, approaching R$ 5 and surprising the market with global inflation and tensions in the Middle East that continue to create global uncertainty.
-
China’s investments in Brazil in factories, energy, oil, electric cars, and new industrial projects double to $4.2 billion, making the country the 3rd largest global destination for Chinese capital.
-
Lula announced that 160,000 students in debt with FIES will be included in the federal government’s renegotiation package and compared the cost of an inmate to that of a student by saying that Brazil invests in criminals when it does not invest in education.
-
Young people are leaving college in the United States and competing for jobs in construction with salaries of R$ 500,000 per year.
The strategy is also anchored in international partnerships: since 2018, the Port of Rotterdam has held 30% ownership of Pecém, reinforcing its export vocation and access to markets demanding low-carbon fuels.
What Changes with the Green Ammonia Terminal Operator
The definition of the operator reduces uncertainties regarding storage, handling, and safety of green ammonia, which is currently the preferred route for transporting hydrogen over long distances. The pre-contract with Stolthaven/GES covers planning, construction, and operation of the infrastructure, an aspect seen as a bottleneck in port hubs worldwide.
With the utility corridor and the ZPE’s back area prepared, Pecém creates an industrial “last mile” connected to the dock, a critical condition to close offtake contracts with traders and industries.
Another vector is financing for engineering and pre-implementation. The ZPE Ceará announced the approval of Finep resources for a structuring project of H₂V, in an endeavor that aims for up to 900,000 t/year of ammonia led by Casa dos Ventos and TotalEnergies, still subject to timelines and licenses.
Anchor Projects and Milestones Already Achieved
In addition to AES, the EDP pilot project produced, in December 2022, the first green hydrogen molecule of the company in the world and the first reported in Brazil, validating the technological route within the Pecém Complex.
Fortescue had a preliminary phase approved to implement an H₂V plant in the ZPE, indicating progress of one of the first pre-contracts signed by the State. Meanwhile, groups like Qair continue with industrial planning for hydrogen and ammonia in Ceará.
The portfolio includes memorandums and pre-contracts signed since 2021, with scalable goals for electrolysis and derivatives aimed at export to Europe, where Rotterdam serves as a logistical and commercial gateway.
Infrastructure: Pipelines, Pier and ZPE Unlock Exports
The adaptation of Pier 2 and the dedicated terminal aim to raise standards of safety, compatibility, and loading rates of vessels for green ammonia. The utility corridor connects electrolysis and synthesis units in the ZPE to the tanks and the dock, reducing duplicated CAPEX among companies and sending signals of regulatory stability.
The ZPE Ceará also plans internal pipelines specific for ammonia and hydrogen, integrating production and flow. In hub models, this interconnection is decisive for competitiveness and environmental certification.
In the medium term, port expansions and logistical improvements in Pecém are expected to support greater throughput of low-carbon products, aligned with governance CIPP/Rotterdam.
Why Green Ammonia is Ceará’s Route
Green ammonia is currently the most viable derivative for transporting H₂V over long distances and can supply fertilizers, shipping, and industry. In Pecém, the ongoing projects target local production and export via Rotterdam, in line with transition routes and international certification.
Sector reports highlight the need for certification standards, performance indicators, and shared infrastructure for scaling up — points included in the Cearense roadmap for the Hub.
Do you think Brazil should prioritize exporting green ammonia or using H₂V to reduce the cost of fertilizers and steel domestically? Leave your opinion in the comments.
-
-
-
-
10 pessoas reagiram a isso.