The Environmental Council of the Brazilian State has given the green light to Fortescue’s environmental impact study concerning the production of green hydrogen at the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex in Ceará.
Fortescue is a global green energy company headquartered in Australia. Fortescue was originally focused on iron ore mining under the name of Fortescue Metals Group until July 2023. As of 2017, Fortescue is the fourth-largest iron ore producer in the world.
Agustín Pichot, President of Fortescue Latin America, expressed the significance of this approval for their project, stating, “This is an important step for our project at the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex and will allow us to continue moving forward to make the green hydrogen industry a reality in Brazil and the state of Ceará.”
Pichot emphasized Fortescue’s commitment to environmental responsibility and community well-being, saying, “We will continue working to develop the industry with a strong commitment to the environment and the communities where we operate.”
Gianpaola Ciniglio, Environment Manager for Fortescue Latin America, noted that the approval reflects the state of Ceará’s dedication to both environmental sustainability and economic growth. Ciniglio explained, “This process aimed to ensure compliance with local environmental requirements and international standards of good practice. It also allowed Fortescue to deepen the study of the natural and social environment to continue the development of our project with great commitment, and thus acquire its preliminary environmental license.”
Upon completion, the plant is anticipated to have a final production capacity of 837 tonnes per day of green hydrogen, achieved through the consumption of 2.1 gigawatts of renewable power. Operations are slated to commence in 2027.
