UK-based ATOME Energy announced that its 145 MW Villeta Project in Paraguay has been granted Free-Trade Zone (FTZ) status by Presidential decree. This is only the sixth FTZ in Paraguay. It will provide ATOME with major tax exemptions.
“Through successive administrations it has been both consistently crystal clear that Paraguay is open for business and encourages and supports serious foreign investors and investments,” said ATOME Chair Peter Levine. “We are greatly honored by President Peña by his signing of the decree for the tax-free zone in Villeta, and we are grateful for the support and trust he and his Ministers have given to us in this important landmark project for the country of Paraguay.”
ATOME announced on May 22 that it decided to use its planned green hydrogen/ammonia complex in Paraguay (GM May 12, p. 1; May 26, p. 31) to produce 250,000 mt/y of green calcium ammonium nitrate. ATOME hopes to make a final investment decision and begin construction by the end of the year at its 75-acre site in Villeta, with the project scheduled to start production in second-half 2025.