ATOME Energy, Leeds, UK, on Feb. 2 announced a new joint venture to develop green ammonia and fertilizer projects with the focus on Central America and the Caribbean. The jv, National Ammonia Corp. SA (NAC), will be based in San Jose, Costa Rica, and will be jointly owned by ATOME and Cavendish, the renewable energy arm of Grupo Purdy SA, one of Costa Rica’s largest companies.
Cavendish is an early mover in Costa Rica’s green hydrogen market, and its goals are said to be complimentary of those of ATOME, which is focused on countries with renewable power resources and capabilities combined with access to both domestic and international end markets.
ATOME said Costa Rica’s favorable position, with ports on both the Atlantic and Pacific only separated by some 200 kilometers of land bridge, make the country a logistically excellent location.
Using NAC, ATOME plans to capitalize on the roll-out of its large scale hydrogen and ammonia production model now being implemented in Paraguay (GM Dec. 3, 2022). ATOME’s flagship project in Villeta, Paraguay, is expected to produce 100,000 mt/y of green ammonia. It expects the 120MW project will be the largest dedicated green ammonia facility in Latin America by the time it is operational in 2025.
ATOME said material and constructive discussions are already taking place with relevant stakeholders in the areas of focus for NAC.