R$7 billion thermoelectric plant opens in Porto do Açu

The GNA II plant will supply 8 million homes and reinforce the strategic role of the Rio de Janeiro port in the country's energy infrastructure.

Minister of Ports and Airports Silvio Costa Filho participated this Monday (28), alongside President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in the inauguration of the GNA II Thermoelectric Plant, in Porto do Açu, the largest natural gas plant in Latin America. With 1.7 GW, it will be able to supply up to 8 million homes. The project received R$ 7 billion in investments and generated 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.

At the event, Gás Natural Açu S/A. also announced more than R$4 billion in new investments in the complex. Adding up the projects under development on various fronts in the port complex, approximately R$30 billion in investments are planned for the next ten years.

The minister highlighted the economic and social importance of the Port of Açu, which currently accounts for 6% of all national port traffic and accounts for over 40% of Brazil's oil exports. According to him, the terminal is proportionally the port that generates the most direct jobs in the country, with over 7,000 direct jobs and another 20,000 indirect jobs.

"The federal government has been working diligently to modernize Brazilian ports. Last month alone, we announced R$4.7 billion in new Private Use Terminals, and the projected investment is to exceed R$10 billion by the end of the year. Here at the Port of Açu, we signed R$350 million in investments aimed at expanding activities, which reinforces the Federal Government's commitment to the growth of national port infrastructure," stated Costa Filho.

The ceremony was attended by First Lady Janja Lula da Silva, the Minister of Women, Márcia Lopes, and the ministers Alexandre Silveira (of Mines and Energy), Waldez Góes (of Integration and Regional Development), the president of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Aloizio Mercadante, and federal deputy Benedita da Silva, in addition to state and municipal authorities.

Structural projects in the new PAC

Silvio Costa Silva also announced six other projects for the Port of Açu, which will be prioritized under the New Growth Acceleration Program (PAC). These include: the new Açu liquids terminal, dredging and maintenance of navigation channels, a new sustainable decommissioning base, expansion of the dock infrastructure, expansion of the multi-cargo terminal, and the new TUP for grain handling.

"President Lula has already ordered that, together with the Chief of Staff, we expedite the projects requested by the Ministry of Ports and Airports. These six projects will be included in the new PAC as a federal government priority, so that they can be effectively implemented," the minister added.

The Port of Açu has already accumulated R$60 billion in private investment and accounts for 50% of Brazil's natural gas imports, generating over 30,000 indirect jobs. The Ministry of Ports and Airports also authorized R$275.3 million to expand the Açu Maritime Fuel Terminal (Tecma), strengthening the state's logistics and energy infrastructure.