ANTAQ Approves Comprehensive Decarbonization Study for Brazilian Ports

At a board meeting held this Thursday (25), the National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ) approved the study “Diagnosis of Decarbonization, Infrastructure, and Hydrogen Applications in Ports.” This study was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The study evaluates how Brazilian port infrastructures are preparing to accommodate vessels using green fuel, wind energy production, electrification of port equipment, and Onshore Power Supply (OPS) systems.

During the discussion, the Board of Directors emphasized the study’s importance for the sector. Understanding how ports are gearing up for the energy transition and decarbonization is crucial for making progress on these issues.

This diagnosis will establish guidelines and directives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships in ports and facilitate the decarbonization of port infrastructure and services.

In line with ANTAQ’s commitment to the environment, this initiative is part of a Technical Cooperation Agreement (TCA) signed with GIZ in September 2023 to promote decarbonization in the sector. This study represents the second of three defined phases.

Integrated Actions Needed

The study concluded that decarbonizing the port sector requires integrated actions to achieve significant emission reductions. With this diagnosis, port facilities will have clear guidance on the measures needed.

The survey was conducted under the International Hydrogen Program H2Uppp, funded by the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The program aims to identify, prepare, and monitor projects for producing and using green hydrogen and derivatives, as well as raise awareness and transfer knowledge for project development.

Caio Farias, the reporting director, mandated that copies of the approved study be sent to the Ministries of Ports and Airports and Mines and Energy and that the studies be published on the ANTAQ website.

Phased Cooperation

The TCA with GIZ outlines the project in three phases. Axis 1, completed in 2021, involved reviewing international experiences, analyzing documents, and studying technical and scientific articles on energy transition and decarbonization in maritime transport and ports.

Axis 2, approved at this board meeting, provided a diagnosis of decarbonization in ports. Axis 3, to be conducted by ANTAQ, will present a case study through a field survey and semi-structured interviews with ports and entities in the port sector.

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