ATOME Energy appoints Natixis CIB as Financial Adviser for the Villeta Project

Atome Energy release

ATOME Energy (AIM: ATOM), the only pure international green hydrogen and ammonia production company on the London Stock Exchange with current large scale projects in Europe and South America and mobility projects, announces the appointment of Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking ("Natixis CIB"), following a competitive bidding process, as its Financial Adviser to structure and secure financing for the Company's Villeta project in Paraguay.

ATOME will work with Natixis CIB to determine the optimal sources of funding at the project and group level for the successful completion of construction of the project, as well as to identify the best partners at the project level. ATOME is in a favourable market leader position due to its scale, cost base and expeditious timeframe to production with significant interest already having been shown by international multi-lateral bodies as well as other institutions.

ATOME's Villeta Project consists of a fast-track build-up of industrial scale production of green hydrogen and ammonia in Paraguay. The Project will utilise sustainable hydro-electric power supply as baseload 24/7 available renewable electricity. ATOME has entered into a long-term 60MW Power Purchase Agreement and secured 75 acres of land for the facility site, adjacent to a navigable waterway facilitating shipment of the Company's production. The Final Investment Decision for the Project is expected in Q1 2023. ATOME and Natixis CIB are confident that the Company can achieve funding to support the Project, targeting commencement of construction by mid-2023 and production start for the beginning of 2025.

Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking part of the Global Financial Services Division of Group  BPCE, the second largest banking group in France, is one of the world leaders in hydrogen and energy infrastructure funding, ranked as #2 Global Infrastructure Finance MLA and #3 Latin America Renewables MLA in 2021, according to IJ Global League Tables. It is a member of the Hydrogen Council and the EU's European Clean Hydrogen Alliance to promote H2 adoption, and led the three major hydrogen European IPOs in 2021/2022.

Olivier Mussat, Chief Executive Officer at ATOME Energy, commented: "Today's announcement highlights and marks another step in the fast track progress the Company is making towards achieving final investment decision for its Villeta project in Q1 2023, in line with expectations for commencement of facility construction by mid next year and the starting of fullscale operations in early 2025."

Frank Pluta, Global Head of Energy Transition & Natural Resources at Natixis CIB commented: "We are very excited to join ATOME's effort to deliver concrete and fast-track energy transition solutions, and have every confidence in their ability to succesfully roll out the multi-phase Villeta green hydrogen and ammonia project, with access to green energy supply and a significant end market.  Natixis CIB shares ATOME's vision in accelerating the green hydrogen and green ammonia sector, and is committed to supporting leading players like ATOME in securing innovative funding at a global scale."