Rio Grande do Norte plans to build a ‘Green Industry Port’

The government of Rio Grande do Norte is seeking to attract private investors for the Green Industry Port project, which it plans to build in Caiçara do Norte (160 km from Natal). The terminal will be dedicated to multi-purpose port operations, with an emphasis on offshore wind energy, low-carbon industrial inputs, and green hydrogen (H₂V) projects, which are still under development.

In recent months, Governor Fátima Bezerra (PT) has presented the project to Danish, Arab, and Chinese groups, including the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).

According to the state government, cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding have been signed with major energy companies, and the goal is to establish partnerships with ports in Europe.

In mid-2025, Bezerra visited Denmark, where she toured the Port of Esbjerg, one of Europe’s leading multimodal terminals, strongly focused on the offshore and renewable energy industries. The agenda included a visit to Blue Water Shipping, one of the Danish port’s operators, which expressed interest in the project.

Although these groups have not yet formalized partnerships, the Rio Grande do Norte government has intensified efforts to make the terminal’s construction viable, estimated at more than R$5 billion.

The technical feasibility study for the project is expected to be completed in 2027, according to the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor). The national secretary for ports, Alex Ávila, stated that preliminary studies — which include technological alternatives, logistical solutions (highways and railways), environmental and socioeconomic impact assessments, and commercial aspects — are already underway.

According to lawyer Nilton Mattos, partner in the infrastructure and energy area at the Mattos Filho law firm, the main driver behind the Green Industry Port project is the potential for wind energy generation.

The availability of large-scale clean energy, he explains, would enable the production of certified green hydrogen, which is essential for its export to markets such as Europe.

Rio Grande do Norte, which already leads national onshore wind energy production, now aims to expand offshore generation.

H₂V, however, is not yet economically viable due to production costs. If expectations for cost reduction are confirmed, the new port could be crucial for exporting production and attracting ventures related to renewable energy, green steel, and even fertilizers, Mattos says.

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Source: Valor Econômico

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