Brazil · Energy
Key Facts
—Project cost Eneva is investing roughly R$6 billion (about US$1.2 billion) in the thermal plant and a dedicated gas pier, creating over 2,000 jobs during construction.
—Capacity and contract The Jandaia plant will generate 1,147 MW under a 15-year federal contract, expanding the region’s reliable power supply for investors and residents.
—LNG infrastructure The project includes an import terminal, an FSRU, and a R$430 million (about US$85 million) pier, securing a new natural gas supply route for Ceará.
—Strategic shift Eneva sold its coal-fired Pecém II plant to focus on natural gas, signaling a long-term commitment to cleaner thermal power generation.
—Timeline Works officially launched in June 2026 with the cornerstone ceremony, and the plant is scheduled to start commercial operations in 2030.
Brazilian power company Eneva is starting works on a roughly R$6 billion (about US$1.2 billion) gas-fired power and LNG infrastructure complex at the Port of Pecém in Ceará state.
Groundbreaking at the Pecém Complex
Eneva S.A. has officially launched construction of its new gas-power hub on the coast of Ceará. The cornerstone ceremony was held in June 2026 at the Port of Pecém, in São Gonçalo do Amarante, marking the physical start of the project.
The initiative centers on the Jandaia natural-gas thermoelectric plant in nearby Caucaia and an associated LNG regasification terminal and pier directly at the port. Together, the thermal plant and exclusive gas-handling pier are expected to cost around R$6 billion (about US$1.2 billion).
For readers unfamiliar with Brazil’s energy geography, Ceará sits in the country’s Northeast region, an area that has historically relied on a mix of hydroelectric power from the São Francisco River basin and older thermal plants. The Pecém Industrial and Port Complex itself is a purpose-built hub designed to attract heavy industry through integrated logistics, including a deep-water port and direct access to power generation. Adding a large-scale gas-fired plant there strengthens the state’s role as a strategic energy node for the entire Northeast.
The Jandaia Plant and Auction Win
The Jandaia project was secured through a federal capacity reserve auction held in March. Eneva, together with Diamante Geração de Energia, won the right to build the gas-fired plant, which will have a generation capacity of 1,147 MW under a 15-year contract.
Eneva had previously finalized the acquisition of the broader Jandaia LNG-to-power project from Ceiba Energy in September 2025. The total licensed capacity for the complex is up to 2,340 MW, making it a cornerstone of the company’s future gas-fired portfolio in the region.
A capacity reserve auction works differently from a standard energy auction. Instead of paying only for the electricity generated, the government contracts to pay for the plant’s availability — its readiness to dispatch power when the grid needs it moSt This model is designed to guarantee supply during peak demand or when renewable sources like wind and solar are not producing.
For a gas-fired plant, that means it acts as a form of insurance for the national grid, complementing Brazil’s growing portfolio of intermittent renewable energy.
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Gas Infrastructure and Pier Zero
To fuel the new thermal plant, the complex requires dedicated infrastructure for importing and processing liquefied natural gas. The plan includes a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) and a new import terminal.
A specific component is the construction of Pier Zero at the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex, for which Marquise Infraestrutura was selected. This dedicated pier alone represents an investment of about R$430 million (about US$85 million) and is designed to handle exclusive gas deliveries for Eneva’s project.
An FSRU is essentially a specialized ship that stays moored at the pier and performs two critical jobs. First, it stores the liquefied natural gas after it arrives from an LNG carrier.
Second, it warms the super-cooled liquid back into a gaseous state so it can flow through pipelines to the power plant. This approach is often faster and more flexible than building a permanent onshore regasification facility, and it has become a popular solution for countries looking to add gas import capacity without committing to decades-long construction timelines for land-based terminals.
Why This Matters for Investors and Residents
For investors, the start of construction translates a multi-year auction and acquisition process into tangible, on-the-ground progress. Eneva’s sale of its coal-fired Pecém II plant to focus on this hub demonstrates a portfolio rotation toward LNG, aligning with global energy trends and offering a new long-term contracted asset.
For Ceará residents and the regional economy, the project promises more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs over the next three years. Once operational in 2030, the plant will strengthen the local grid’s reliability, handling around 18 million cubic meters of natural gas per year and supporting energy security in Brazil’s Northeast.
The shift from coal to natural gas also carries environmental significance. Natural gas combustion emits roughly half the carbon dioxide of coal per unit of electricity produced, and it releases far lower levels of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter.
While not a zero-emission solution, the move aligns with a broader Brazilian and global trend of using gas as a bridge fuel while renewable capacity continues to scale up. The question for observers is how this thermal plant will interact with the region’s fast-growing wind and solar farms, and whether the combined portfolio can reduce the Northeast’s historical vulnerability to drought-driven hydropower shortages.
What to Watch Next
Several open questions will shape how this project is ultimately judged. One is the pace of construction over the next four years and whether the 2030 commercial operations target holds firm.
Large infrastructure projects in Brazil have faced delays from supply-chain disruptions, licensing hurdles, and financing conditions, so timely execution will be a key metric.
Another area to monitor is the evolution of Brazil’s capacity auction framework. If future auctions continue to favor gas-fired reserve capacity, the Jandaia complex could become a template for similar projects along the coast. Conversely, any policy shift toward battery storage or other fast-response technologies could alter the long-term economics of gas-fired plants contracted under this model.
Finally, the project’s relationship with the existing Pecém industrial ecosystem deserves attention. The port already hosts a steel mill, a coal-fired plant that Eneva sold, and export infrastructure for iron ore and other commodities.
How the new gas pier and FSRU integrate with those existing operations — and whether they open the door for additional gas-dependent industries to set up nearby — will determine if this investment remains a standalone power play or becomes the anchor of a broader industrial expansion in Ceará.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is building the new gas power plant in Pecém?
Brazilian power generator Eneva S.A. is building the Jandaia thermal plant at the Port of Pecém, having won the project in a federal auction together with Diamante Geração de Energia.
How much is Eneva investing in the Pecém gas-power hub?
Eneva is investing approximately R$6 billion (about US$1.2 billion) in the thermal power plant and its associated gas pier, with an additional R$430 million (about US$85 million) allocated specifically for the gas terminal and pier.
When will the Jandaia thermal plant start generating power?
Construction has begun with a cornerstone ceremony in June 2026, and according to official project timelines, the plant is scheduled to commence commercial operations in 2030.
Sources: Brazil’s Eneva starts R$6B Jandaia gas-power hub at Pecém, Ceará, Eneva, Diamante win capacity auction for new natural gas-fired power plant at Pecém Complex, Eneva inicia obras para termelétrica e pier de gás no Pecém, New Regasification Pier at Port of Pecém Boosts Ceará’s Energy Expansion, Eneva mira Pecém para turbinar portfólio térmico
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