Brazil roundup: 3R-Enauta deal, green hydrogen bill, energy storage and more

M&A approvals

Brazil’s antitrust authority Cade approved, without restrictions, the sale of Enauta to 3R Petroleum. 

With the approval, Enauta will become a subsidiary of 3R. 

The operation also involves the shares of Maha Holding and 3R Offshore. 

As a result, 3R will have a production of around 70,000boe/d (barrels of oil equivalent per day), corresponding to 1.5% of national production. 

Cade also approved the deal between Auren Energia and AES Brasil. 

In May, Auren announced the purchase of AES Brasil, making it the third largest power generation company in the country.  

Green hydrogen 

The senate approved a bill that creates a regulatory framework for the production of low-carbon hydrogen and sets out tax and financial incentives for the segment. 

The bill’s main text had already been approved, but four addendums were pending a vote. 

Due to the changes, the bill will return to the lower house.

Pipeline expansion

Transpetro inaugurated a new section of the Paulínia-São Paulo oil pipeline (Opasa 16) in São Paulo. 

The project involved an investment of 465 million reais and replaced 68km of pipes at Opasa 16, which connects the Paulínia refinery (Replan) to the Barueri terminal. 

The new infrastructure improves safety, operational efficiency and brings technological advances that make it possible to increase handling capacity by up to 60%, said Transpetro in a release.

Energy storage 

CTG Brasil said it is working on a project with the Senai Institute of Innovation for Information and Communication Technologies (ISI-TICs), Thymos Energia and Wisebyte that involves a battery energy storage system and distributed generation. 

Through a 15mn-real investment they will build an electrochemical energy storage laboratory, which will be connected to a small photovoltaic solar plant of approximately 900 modules on the premises of the Ilha Solteira hydroelectric plant, at the Paraná river. 

The plant’s installed capacity will be 500kWp, while the energy storage capacity of the batteries will be 100kWh. 

The energy generated will initially be used only by CTG within its distribution coverage area, while complementary ways of using the energy will be evaluated.

Green loan

ComBio signed a contract with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for a long-term green loan of 120mn reais, which will be used to accelerate the company's growth. 

The amount can be increased to up to 450mn reais over the next 12 months by mutual agreement. 

ComBio implements steam generation projects for industries using renewable and sustainably sourced fuels, such as biomass, electricity from renewable sources, or biogas. 

New wind complex

Pan American Energy inaugurated the Novo Horizonte wind farm complex in Bahia state, the company's first venture in Brazil. 

The firm invested 3 billion reais in the project. 

The complex is Pan American's largest worldwide, with 94 wind turbines spread across 10 farms, which can supply up to one million households.

Natural gas deal 

Edge, a Cosan subsidiary, has started selling natural gas to Delta Porcelanato, which became the first company in São Paulo state to migrate to the non-regulated (free) market to purchase gas. 

Delivery began on July 1 with a volume of 140,000m3/d. 

Considering other clients, such as Cedasa, Incopisos, Cecafi and Lef, Edge said it expects the volume to increase to around 500,000m3/d this month.