Brazilian energy company Eneva is set to begin construction in August of a new 1.2 GW natural gas-fired power plant at the Port of Pecém in Ceará, northeastern Brazil.

The project represents an estimated investment of $1.2 billion and will include a floating natural gas regasification facility connected to the power plant through new port infrastructure.

The regasification facility will be installed at Pier Zero, a new terminal being developed by Marquise Infraestrutura with an estimated investment of R$600 million (approximately $120 million). The infrastructure will connect the LNG supply system to the new power plant, which will have a generation capacity of 1,200 MW (1.2 GW) — enough to supply electricity to up to 1 million homes.

The thermal power plant will be built by Sener, a Spanish multinational engineering and technology company headquartered in Madrid with operations in Brazil and experience in complex infrastructure and industrial installations.

According to Eneva President Lino Cançado, speaking to Diário do Nordeste, the new facility will incorporate advanced technology and modern equipment.

Once operational, the plant is expected to add 1.2 GW to Ceará’s existing electricity generation capacity of approximately 5.5 GW, which currently comes from a combination of solar, wind, biomass, natural gas and coal-fired generation.

From Coal to LNG

The new project is part of Eneva’s broader shift in the Pecém region away from coal-fired generation and toward natural gas.

The Pecém Industrial and Port Complex (CIPP) currently hosts two major coal-fired power plants, Pecém I and Pecém II, which together have approximately 1 GW of generation capacity.

Eneva recently announced the sale of Pecém II, a coal-fired power plant, to Diamante Energia for up to R$1 billion (approximately $200 million). Diamante Energia already owns Pecém I.

The transaction is part of Eneva’s strategy to transition its operations in the region toward natural gas generation. The new plant will have approximately three times the generation capacity of Pecém II and will be integrated with new LNG infrastructure.

In parallel, Eneva signed an agreement with Diamante Energia that will allow the installation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the area. The terminal will have the capacity to handle up to 14 million cubic meters of natural gas per day.

The infrastructure could also allow natural gas to be supplied beyond electricity generation, creating opportunities to serve industrial and residential consumers in the region.

The development would therefore create an integrated natural gas infrastructure at Pecém, combining LNG imports, gas regasification, power generation and potential gas distribution to industrial and residential customers.

Strengthening Ceará’s Energy Infrastructure

The project comes as Ceará continues to expand its electricity generation and energy infrastructure. The addition of 1.2 GW of new gas-fired generation would represent a significant increase in the state’s generation capacity and provide a dispatchable source of electricity alongside its growing renewable generation base.

The combination of the new power plant and LNG infrastructure is also expected to strengthen the strategic role of the Port of Pecém in Ceará’s energy sector, connecting the state’s electricity system with international natural gas supplies.

The Growing Importance of the Pecém Industrial Complex

A key advantage of the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex (CIPP) in Ceará is its multisectoral integration and intermodal logistics infrastructure. It combines a large-scale port terminal, a dedicated industrial area and Brazil’s only operating Export Processing Zone (ZPE), providing companies with tax and operational advantages for international trade.

The port is also set to expand its reach through its connection to the Transnordestina Railway, which will link Pecém with Ceará’s interior and Brazil’s northeastern hinterland, while also improving connections with other major ports, including Suape in Pernambuco. The railway is expected to strengthen the region’s logistics infrastructure for the transportation and export of bulk commodities, including minerals and agricultural products.

The complex is already home to major industries across sectors including steelmaking, metalworking and chemicals, as well as an established energy sector centered around the Pecém I and Pecém II power plants. More recently, the region has seen a surge in investment in sustainable energy and technology. Aeris, for example, manufactures wind turbine blades at the complex, while a new green hydrogen hub is expected to attract up to $10 billion in investment, with a focus on future exports and infrastructure connected to the planned Pecém–Rotterdam Green Corridor.

The region is also attracting investment in digital infrastructure. ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, is planning major investments in data centers in the region, with potential investments of up to $40 billion over the next 10 years.

All of these projects have one thing in common: they require large and reliable supplies of energy. As Pecém continues to attract heavy industry, renewable energy projects, green hydrogen production and data centers, the complex is becoming increasingly energy-intensive, making reliable power and natural gas infrastructure a critical component of its continued expansion.