Perenco and Porto do Açu have signed an agreement to develop a marine electrification project in the production clusters of Pargo and Chern in the Campos Basin. This project is designed to connect shallow water facilities to Brazil's land electricity grid via an 80-kilometer underwater cable.
Details of the Electrification Project
The underwater cable will run from a new station at Porto do Açu located in São João da Barra in the state of Rio de Janeiro to the facilities. Perenco intends to build the network connection within the port complex, and Porto do Açu will provide the land and cable corridor. Perenco's facilities in these two clusters currently rely on onboard turbo generators, and replacing part of this generation with electricity supplied from land will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease dependence on locally produced electricity.
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Timeline and Future Projections
The system is expected to initially operate at a capacity of 35 megawatts and increase to 60 megawatts over four years. The project's operations are targeted for the first quarter of 2028. Perenco estimates the expected investment to be around $110 million, with construction planned for the second quarter of 2027.
The underwater cable will reach the central Pargo platform, which distributes electricity to other facilities through the existing international network. Additionally, after the system is operational, the operator will be able to source renewable electricity from Brazil's free electricity market.
Perenco Brazil's General Manager, Damien Szyszka, stated: "The electrification project combines Perenco's innovative spirit with Porto do Açu's entrepreneurial drive and serves as a model for energy supply initiatives. This project will help extend the lifespan of assets and reduce emissions levels."
Porto do Açu's Executive Director, Eugenio Figueiredo, also added: "Marine electrification programs of this scale are rare internationally, and collaborating with Perenco strengthens Porto do Açu's position as a catalyst for low-carbon solutions in the oil and gas sector."
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