Porto do Pecém power station

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Porto do Pecém power station (Usina Terméletrica Pecém) is an operating power station of at least 1085-megawatts (MW) in São Gonçalo do Amarante, Ceará, Brazil.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Porto do Pecém power station São Gonçalo do Amarante, Ceará, Brazil -3.5827, -38.875 (exact)

The map below shows the exact location of the power station.

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

  • Plant I Unit 1, Plant I Unit 2, Plant II Unit 1: -3.5827, -38.875

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology Start year Retired year
Plant I Unit 1 operating coal: unknown 360 subcritical 2012 2028 (planned)
Plant I Unit 2 operating coal: unknown 360 subcritical 2013 2028 (planned)
Plant II Unit 1 operating coal: unknown 365 subcritical 2013 2040 (planned)[1]

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner Parent
Plant I Unit 1 EDP Brasil SA [20%]; Mercurio Asset [80%][2][2] Mercurio Asset [80.0%]; EDP Brasil SA [20.0%]
Plant I Unit 2 EDP Brasil SA [20%]; Mercurio Asset [80%][2][2] Mercurio Asset [80.0%]; EDP Brasil SA [20.0%]
Plant II Unit 1 Eneva SA [100%] Eneva SA [100.0%]

Background

Pecém I

Brazilian energy company Eneva (formerly MPX Energia SA) and power holding company EDP Energias no Brasil each held a 50 per cent stake in the 720 MW Pecém I station at the time of its original licensing in 2006. Units 1 and 2 each have 360 MW of capacity. [3] Pecém I won a contract in Brazil's October 2007 A-5 energy auction to produce an annual average of 615MW of power over a 15-year period, and in January 2012 received permission from the Brazilian authorities to begin testing the first coal unit.[4] In December 2012, Brazil's energy regulator ANEEL authorized Pecém I's first unit to begin commercial operations[5], and in May 2013, Pecém I's second unit also received the green light from ANEEL to start operating commercially.[6][5] In 2015, Eneva sold its stake in the project to EDP Brasil, which assumed 100% ownership of Units 1 and 2.[7]

In March 2023, it was reported that the president of the Development Company for the Industrial and Port Complex of Pecém, Hugo Figueiredo, had announced that coal-fired plants in Pecém would have their contracts with the National Electric Energy Agency terminated in 2028.[8] The plan was for coal-fired power generation at Pecém I to be replaced by clean energy (such as green hydrogen) by 2028.[8]

Partial sale of Pecém I

In September 2023, EDP signed an agreement for the sale of 80% stake in Pecém I to the Brazilian investing group Mercurio Asset.[9][10] While the sale price was unknown at the time, the agreement reportedly stipulated conditions for the sale of the remaining 20% before the end of the current energy contract's duration.[10] The power station had reportedly not been operating for the past 16 months due to the high capacity of local hydroelectric reservoirs.[11]

Pecém II

A newer addition, the 365 MW Pecém II plant, owned 50% by Eneva[12] and 50% by E.ON, completed its testing phase in June 2013 and received ANEEL's authorization to begin commercial operations in October 2013.[13][14] Eneva's current electricity generation concession for the Porto do Pecém plant expires in December 2027.[15]

The power station receives coal from the Port of Pecém.

In an October 2020 interview with Capital Reset, Eneva CEO Pedro Zinner reiterated the company's commitment to phasing out new investment in coal-fired power plants, but left open the possibility of continuing to operate the Pecém plant beyond 2027 if Brazilian demand for electricity exceeds supply from other sources.[16]

Corporate reports issued by Eneva in early 2022 reconfirmed the company's commitment to phase out all coal assets by 2040[17][18], and to limit new coal investment to the currently operating Itaqui and Porto do Pecém power stations.[18][19]

Financing

Financing for Pecém I

In February 2008, a financing agreement for Pecém I was closed. US$279.38 million in loans were provided by ING Group, Citigroup, Millennium BCP, WestLB, Banco do Brasil, and Haitong Bank. US$365.68 million in equity was provided by EDP Group and ENEVA. Citigroup acted as financial advisor to the sponsor for the deal.[20] In July 2009, a second financing agreement for Pecém I was closed. US$1,039.19 million in loans were provided by the Inter-American Development Bank, BNDES, Credit Agricole Group, Millennium BCP, and Caixa Geral de Depósitos. US$544 in equity was provided by EDP Group and ENEVA. Citigroup aagin acted as financial advisor to the sponsor for the deal.[21] Finally, in 2016, EDP Group announced that it has voluntarily prepaid the entire amount of the loan agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) by contracting two new loans in the total amount of R$ 480 million and the capital injection by EDP in Pecém in the amount of R$ 500 million.[22]

Financing for Pecém II

In January 2009, a financing agreement for Pecém II was closed. US$131.88 million in loans was provided by Bradesco, Citigroup, Santander, Itau-Unibanco, and Banco Votorantim. Citigroup acted as financial advisor for the sponsor.[23]

Proposed expansion projects and alternative fuels

EDP Brasil

In October 2017, EDP Vice President Luiz Otavio announced that his company was considering development of a new R$1.5-billion unit to be fueled with Colombian coal, either at the existing Porto do Pecém location or at a separate location in one of two competing (but unnamed) Brazilian states.[24][5]

In late 2022, EDP announced that it would begin developing a pilot green hydrogen plant within the Porto do Pecém power complex in 2023.[25][26] In February 2023, EDP Brazil announced that they had already begun green hydrogen power generation at Pecém I and planned to completely replace coal-fired power with green hydrogen by 2028.[8]

Eneva

Eneva CEO Pedro Zinner, in a May 2019 interview with Brazil Journal, said that Eneva had no further plans to invest in coal and that he expected coal to play a diminishing role in the company's footprint over time, despite the fact that Eneva's coal-fired power plants, including Porto do Pecém and the MPX Itaqui power project, had generated a profit for the first time in 2018.[27]

Energy transition and decarbonization plans

Reporting in August 2024 announced that Energia Pecém was making plans to convert Pecém I from coal to natural gas, and eventually to Green Hydrogen in the future.[28] A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was published on August 21, 2024 between the government of Ceará and Energia Pecém to aid the company in transitioning the power station away from coal use and later from fossil fuels entirely.[29] The first transition from coal to natural gas use at the power station was expected to take between six and 36 months to begin.[28]

An unrelated report in August 2024 stated that an additional MoU had been signed between Energia Pecém and the State University of Ceará to study a hybrid mineral coal, made with coal and coconut biomass, for potential use at the Pecém power station.[30]

Environmental impact

In May 2019 it was announced that 43 families living near the Pecém port and industrial complex would receive compensation for their exposure to coal dust from the plant. The impact on these families was not addressed by the plant's original Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).[31]

Articles and Resources

References

  1. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240528175657/https://publicidadelegal.monitormercantil.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ENEVA-S-A-Balanco-2023.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20240212212422/https://www.canalenergia.com.br/noticias/53258504/edp-fecha-acordo-para-vender-ute-pecem. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. "EDP Brasil completed the acquisition of Eneva's stake in Pec... | Energy Finance & Investment". IPP Journal. May 22, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. "Brazil to begin testing of new 360 MW coal fired unit". Power Engineering International. 2012-02-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "The Power Plant | EDP Pecém". EDP Brasil. Retrieved 2021-01-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "UTE Pecém II já opera comercialmente,", Diario do Nordeste, May 11, 2013.
  7. "EDP concluí compra da UTE Pecém I". CanalEnergia. May 15, 2015.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Para Complexo do Pecém, UTEs a carvão usarão H2V a partir de 2028". Diário do Nordeste. Feb. 28, 2023. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. EDP assina contrato para venda de usina a carvão em Pecém, no Ceará, EPBR, September 20, 2023
  10. 10.0 10.1 EDP firma contrato com Mercurio Asset para venda de 80% da termelétrica Pecém (CE), Fusões e aquisições, September 20, 2023
  11. EDP fecha acordo para vender UTE Pecém, Canal Energia, September 21, 2023
  12. "Pecém II: Eneva compra 100% das ações da Uniper - Negócios - Diário do Nordeste". Diario do Nordeste. March 13, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. "Pecém II". Eneva website. Retrieved 2023-01-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. "UTE Pecém II está ligada ao sistema - Negócios - Diário do Nordeste". Diario do Nordeste. June 4, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. "2019 Sustainability Report". Eneva. Retrieved 2020-12-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. "Eneva descarta novos investimentos em carvão, mas pode dar sobrevida a usinas existentes, diz CEO". Capital Reset. October 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. "Apresentação Corporativa (pp 3, 32)". Eneva. October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. 18.0 18.1 "Relatório de Sustentabilidade 2021 (pp 3, 8, 22, 26, 32, 91)" (PDF). Eneva. June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. "Eneva promete sair de carvão até 2040 e investir em captura de CO2 e hidrogênio". Capital Reset. February 8, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. "Preview of MPX Pecem I Coal-Fired Power Plant Bridge Loan (720MW) | Transaction | IJGlobal". ijglobal.com. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  21. "Preview of Porto do Pecem I TPP Long-Term Financing | Transaction | IJGlobal". ijglobal.com. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  22. MarketScreener. "EDP Energias do Brasil : Prepayment Porto do Pecém Geração de Energia S.A. Financing | MarketScreener". www.marketscreener.com. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  23. "Preview of Pecem II 360MW Expansion Bridge Loan | Transaction | IJGlobal". ijglobal.com. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  24. "CE concorre a usina de R$ 1,5 bilhão,", O Povo, October 6, 2017.
  25. "EDP operará em dezembro 1ª usina de Hidrogênio do Pecém". Diário do Nordeste. November 24, 2022.
  26. "Historic Moment: EDP Produces The First Green Hydrogen Molecule in Ceará". Hydrogen Central. December 17, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. Viri, Natalia (May 20, 2019). "Cheia de gás, Eneva ganha respeito no mercado". Brazil Journal.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. 28.0 28.1 "Termelétrica do Pecém prevê investimento de até R$ 4 bilhões para transição energética no Ceará". Diário do Nordeste. August 25, 2024.
  29. "Extrato do Memorando de Entendimentos" (PDF). Ceará DIÁRIO OFICIAL DO ESTADO. August 21, 2024.
  30. "Estudo no Ceará pode transformar coco verde em combustível para termelétricas". Diário do Nordeste. August 29, 2024.
  31. Familias afetadas durante cinco anos por fuligem de carvão mineral serão indenizadas no Ceará, globo.com, May 16, 2019

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.