Porto do Açu and Yamna, a UK-based company specializing in green hydrogen and its derivatives, have signed an agreement to reserve an area within Porto do Açu's low-carbon hub, located in Northern Rio de Janeiro, for the development of a green ammonia plant.

The port complex is expanding its hydrogen and derivatives hub, which already has a licensed area of one million square meters. With this new partnership, an additional two million square meters will be reserved for the development of new sustainable projects, further consolidating Porto do Açu's strategic position in the low-carbon value chain.

Yamna plans for the new ammonia plant to have a production capacity of up to one million tons per year (1 MTPA). The final investment decision is expected in 2027, with the production of the first green molecules starting in 2030.

“We are excited to welcome Yamna to Porto do Açu for its first green ammonia project in Brazil and look forward to working closely together to ensure the success of this initiative, which will further position Açu as a leader in the production of green hydrogen and ammonia,” said Mauro Andrade, Executive Director of Business Development at Prumo Logística.

As Brazil's largest private port, controlled by Prumo Logística and the Antwerp-Bruges International Port, Porto do Açu is responsible for 40% of the country’s oil exports. The port also operates in the mining and logistics sectors. Currently, the port-industrial complex is advancing the energy transition by developing an integrated platform for the low-carbon economy.

Yamna's first project in Brazil aligns with its strategy to develop large-scale green ammonia projects in the most attractive global locations. Brazil, with its vast renewable energy production capacity, availability of essential raw materials, growing domestic demand for low-carbon fuels and fertilizers, and strategic location for exports, offers a great opportunity to expand green ammonia production and meet the rising global demand. Porto do Açu, as an industrial leader and energy hub, provides the ideal infrastructure and logistics, further strengthening Yamna's position as a global leader in the green ammonia market.

“The area reservation agreement signing process was highly collaborative and efficient, and we are confident that this strong cooperation will continue in the upcoming phases of the project, paving the way for a successful final investment decision. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the Antwerp-Bruges International Port for their invaluable contribution to reaching this important milestone. At Yamna, we look forward to playing a key role in the success of this project, leveraging our expertise in green hydrogen and ammonia,” said Abdelaziz Yatribi, CEO of Yamna.

For Porto do Açu’s CEO, Eugenio Figueiredo, the Brazilian port offers one of the best infrastructures in the country to sustainably support the decarbonization of industry, with deep draft, available land with direct access to the quay, and a service cluster that includes multiple port and maritime support providers. “This partnership highlights Açu’s strategic role as a hub for sustainable energy solutions and reflects our commitment to innovative projects that contribute to the global energy transition,” added the executive.

“Our partnership with Porto do Açu is invaluable in helping us become a carbon-neutral port by 2050. We see Açu as a fundamental project for establishing a green corridor, producing and exporting green molecules from Brazil to Belgium. Yamna's presence at Porto do Açu strengthens this initiative, exemplifying the type of pioneering collaboration needed to drive the global energy transition. Together, we are proud to be leaders in the global energy transition,” concluded Kristof Waterschoot, CEO of Antwerp-Bruges International Port.

About Porto do Açu
Located in the northern region of Rio de Janeiro, Porto do Açu is the largest private deep-water port-industrial complex in Latin America. In operation since 2014, it is managed by Porto do Açu Operações, a partnership between Prumo Logística, controlled by EIG, and Antwerp-Bruges International Port. In total, 22 companies are already installed, including several world-class companies. With consolidated and expanding operations in mining, oil, and natural gas, Açu aims to accelerate industrialization focusing on low-carbon projects, being recognized as the energy transition port in Brazil.

About Yamna
Yamna is a company specializing in green hydrogen and derivatives, led by industry experts. The company’s goal is to produce green molecules at scale to replace existing or future fossil fuel-based solutions and contribute to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Yamna is focused on large-scale green hydrogen and derivatives projects in the most competitive global locations, positioning itself as a pioneer. The company is financed by HYCAP, a UK-based asset manager focused on net-zero investments in sustainable and clean energy solutions.