Lula will transport natural gas from Santos to Maranhão by truck

President’s management Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) has no projects to build large-scale gas pipelines and intends to use highways to transport natural gas from the port of Santos (SP) to São Luis (MA). R$5.7 billion will be invested in this so-called “green corridor” by the government.

According to what the Minister of Minerals and Energy said. Alexander SilveiraThe “Green Corridor” will be used to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) and will be fully operational by 2030. The project was announced on Monday (October 7, 2024) at a meeting between Silvera and the following companies in the sector: VirtuGNL, Iniva and edge.

The project begins in 2025. The length of the corridor will be 3,000 km. At this stage, the investment will be R$1.3 billion, and the funds will be disbursed by 2026. Along the way, the system will have 8 supply centers. The idea is to transport 150,000 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas per day.

Brazil has few installed gas pipelines – about half as many as Argentina, and far fewer than those in Europe or the United States. There is little interest on the part of successive governments in putting into effect a plan to build gas pipelines on land, which could transport natural gas to the interior of the country.

Brazilian territory is rich in pre-salt natural gas, but about 50% of what is produced needs to be reinjected into wells due to a lack of transportation infrastructure. Since 2013, the country has not built new transportation pipelines.

“The Green Corridor is a milestone for gas uptake in Brazil and a concrete implementation of the policies of the Lula government in the book Gas for Employment, published in August this year, and Fuel of the Future. We are working to promote the decarbonization of road transport and ensure a cleaner and more sustainable energy future for the country.Alexander Silveira said during his meeting with companies in the sector, according to a memorandum published on the Ministry of Mines and Energy website.

According to the minister, the corridor will transport liquefied natural gas using trucks running on this fuel, which emits 20% to 30% less carbon dioxide compared to diesel vehicles. This is what the Ministry of Mines and Energy says “The initial goal is to operate 1,500 vehicles by 2026, and this number is expected to increase by 2030.”.

Along the 3,000-kilometre corridor, supply centers are designed to be able to supply 500 trucks per day. There will be dining facilities and a driver’s rest area with an area of ​​50,000 square metres.