Hydro has planned invest BRL 1.1 billion in the Alunorte fuel-switch project reduce the refinery’s annual CO2 emissions by 600,000 tonnes. The project will replace heavy fuel oil with natural gas at the Hydro Alunorte alumina refinery.
“This project is a milestone in our sustainability strategy and an important demonstration of our commitment to support local development in Pará State. Based on this decision, we will prepare Alunorte for the fuel switch, further investing in the refinery and generating local jobs,” said John Thuestad, Executive Vice President for Hydro Bauxite & Alumina.
The natural gas is likely to arrive from a liquified natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal. The terminal will be located near the Hydro Alunorte refinery in Barcarena.
“The Alunorte fuel-switch project will be a main enabler to deliver on Hydro's strategy for a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions throughout the aluminium value chain by 2030.”
The project is pending final investment decision, expected by the end of 2021.
Hydro and New Fortress Energy signed recently an MoU for the delivery of LNG to Alunorte, with first delivery expected in 2022.
The company also plans to install three electrical boilers at Alunorte, replacing coal to reduce the refinery’s annual CO2 emissions by 400,000 tonnes. An electrical boiler pilot installation is planned for 2021.
“Elimination of coal by electrifying the remaining boilers at the refinery has a further potential of reducing annual CO2 emissions by 2 million tonnes.”
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