Rio de Janeiro oil port becomes wind power hub with a government push

Brazil’s fastest-growing oil port is preparing to become a hub for offshore wind power and green hydrogen in a country that will prioritize clean energy under Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration.

The Port of Açu in Rio de Janeiro state, which began operations in 2014 and now accounts for nearly 40% of Brazil’s oil exports, is located on one of three main stretches of the Brazilian coastline for offshore wind development.

Shell, Iberdrola, and EDF are companies looking to establish wind operations in the region.

Lula has made combating deforestation and climate change an important part of the political platform for his third term as president.

Fourteen projects are seeking licenses for a total of 33 gigawatts of capacity, and the Port of Açu is offering wind companies space to set up turbine assembly plants, as well as green hydrogen facilities that would be powered by renewable energy, according to Jose Firmo, president of the Port of Açu.

The port already has important supply bases for the offshore oil industry and a factory for flexible pipelines used in the deepwater pre-salt region.

It is well-positioned to be a logistics hub for offshore wind energy.

It is the second-largest port in the country by total volume.

Brazilian offshore wind energy will happen first here at the Port of Açu, Firmo said Wednesday at the inauguration of a warehouse that Lundin Mining will use as a copper export terminal.

Brazil is likely to see investments in the energy transition accelerate under Lula, said Rogério Zampronha, chief executive officer of Prumo Logistica.

This holding company owns the Port of Açu.

With information from Bloomberg