HIF Global, Uruguay government sign agreement to accelerate eFuels project in Paysandú

Photo: HIF Global

HIF Global announced Dec. 19 that through its subsidiary HIF Uruguay, the company signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government of Uruguay reaffirming both parties’ commitment to the eFuels project in Paysandú. 

The agreement establishes the technical and institutional milestones required for the preinvestment decision phase and confirms the signatories’ intent to move forward with the project, which includes the eFuels production facility and the renewable energy parks that will power its operations: the Lucía Solar Park and the Elena Wind Park. 

It also sets guidelines for revitalizing railway lines needed to transport synthetic fuels to the Port of Montevideo, integrating strategic logistics infrastructure for future operations. 

The agreement establishes a high-level committee and a technical committee, composed of government authorities and HIF representatives, responsible for coordinating and executing the necessary milestones for project progress such as energy agreements, environmental permits, easement definitions and railway infrastructure, among other critical elements for implementation. 

HIF Paysandú envisions the construction of an industrial facility to produce eFuels from green hydrogen and recycled CO2, to be executed in four stages.  

Once completed, the plant will have a production capacity of up to 880,000 tons per year, equivalent to decarbonizing more than 400,000 vehicles.  

The project involves an investment of over $5.3 billion and the creation of approximately 1,400 jobs during construction and 300 permanent jobs during operations. 

HIF is producing eFuels today at its HIF Haru Oni eFuels facility in Chile and is developing commercial-scale facilities in the U.S., Uruguay, Chile, Brazil and Australia.