Portocem Energia has selected a new consortium including Mitsubishi Power Americas and engineering company CONSAG for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of the Portocem Thermoelectric Power Plant (UTE Portocem) in Brazil.
The start of the project’s construction was marked with a groundbreaking ceremony on May 5th, 2023.
“UTE Portocem power plant is a historic project for Brazil, allowing for an efficient energy transition and ensuring the reliability of the national electrical system,” said Eric Shigetomi, VP of Sales South America at Mitsubishi Power Americas.
Portocem Geracao de Energia S.A. was the biggest winner of the first Power Capacity Reserve Auction in Brazil, held in December 2021, to contract power for the National Interconnected System (SIN).
Mitsubishi Power will supply four M501JAC enhanced air-cooled gas turbines while CONSAG will be responsible for supplying the balance of plant (BoP), utilities, civil works, assembly, and commissioning of the plant as well as the implementation of transmission lines and substations supplying the BoP.
The four M501JAC gas turbines will operate in simple cycle at UTE Portocem providing much needed generation capacity in Brazil.
UTE Portocem represents Mitsubishi Power’s third advanced class gas turbine project in Brazil over the past six years, establishing a strong track record of success in the country.
UTE Portocem will be one of the largest power plants in Latin America and will boast 1.6 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity. UTE Portocem will be constructed in the Pecem Industrial and Port Complex, located in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza.
A 6 km transmission line will connect the plant to the National Interconnected System (SIN), through the Pecém 2 substation. A Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) will be chartered by Portocem and permanently moored within the basin of the Port of Pecem.