Portocem signs pre-contract to build natural gas-powered thermoelectric in Pecém

Portocem signed, on December 7th, a pre-contract with the Pecém Complex (CIPP S/A), in Ceará, for the construction of a thermoelectric plant powered by natural gas that should start operating in July 2026. With a capacity of 1,572 MW, the asset will provide more security to the SIN – National Interconnected System. In addition, it will be designed to work with low hydroelectric reservoirs, low wind speed, and low intensity of sunlight (photovoltaic generation).

“Our project is more than just a power generation project. This project will directly transform the structure of the Northeast region with the aid of a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) to make the region a natural gas hub in Latin America, becoming a spotlight for attracting sustainable, important investments,” claims Ronan Dias, Porocem’s CEO.

Infrastructure

UTE Portocem will be installed in the Export Processing Zone of Ceará (ZPE Ceará) at the Pecém Complex in the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza. Comprising four single-cycle generator turbines powered by natural gas, the Portocem UTE will have an 8 km transmission line connecting the plant to the SIN through the Pecém 2 Substation.

The project will receive natural gas from a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) that will be chartered by Portocem and permanently moored within the sheltered area of the Port of Pecém.

“This is a large-scale investment project, one of the largest ever planned for Ceará. This will be Brazil’s first natural gas thermoelectric plant built in an export processing zone. In addition, we will install the LNG supply in a sheltered area in the Port of Pecém. In other words, Portocém has arrived to strengthen our industrial and port complex as an important piece of equipment for the Latin American natural gas production chain,” Danilo Serpa, president of Complexo do Pecém (CIPP S/A), says.

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