Port sector needs to accelerate measures to reduce emissions

Ships powered by clean energy require adequate refueling infrastructure, which is still not a reality in Brazil’s terminals (Vanessa Rodrigues/AT Archive)

Advancing more fast with initiatives involving green ports and ships, which have an energy matrix focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, is seen as essential for Brazil, according to experts interviewed by A Tribuna.

The creation of the Interministerial Committee on Sustainability, Climate Change, and Territories (Cosust), formed by the Ministries of Transport (MT) and Ports and Airports (MPor) last month, could support this process, provided that the committee’s responsibilities are clear and comprehensive, as assessed by industry professionals interviewed.

“We have made progress, but there is still a long way to go. Cosust could be crucial in consolidating plans for different transport modes and prioritizing these measures relevant to ports,” says Gesner Oliveira, an economist and partner at GO Associados, and teacher at FGV, where he leads the Center for Infrastructure and Environmental Solutions Studies.

Cosust’s goal is to monitor and ensure the implementation of the Sustainability Guidelines from MT and MPor. It will be responsible for addressing matters related to the development of sustainable and resilient transport infrastructure, environmental licensing and regularization procedures, execution and management of programs, including environmental and climate change compensatory and mitigation measures, management of public domain areas, and procedures for the compulsory relocation of populations.

“The initiative seems good, but it is a fact that the real contribution of Cosust and its effective power in encouraging ports to better prepare for green ships is still unclear,” observes Oliveira. “Considering that only the largest ports are at the forefront of these technologies and incentives, there is still time for Brazil to develop and even – why not – reach levels comparable to these major ports. For this to happen, alignment of interests between the government, ports, and shipowners is necessary,” he adds.

Moving Beyond Rosana Santos, Executive Director of the E+ Energy Transition Institute, believes that the focus should go beyond green fuel. According to her, the idea is also to transform the infrastructure to facilitate the green industrial economy, allowing the formation of industrial hubs for manufactured products and low-carbon goods.

“In addition to focusing on advanced green fuels, the sustainability perspective must also be seen as green economic development. The importance of this initiative, especially if my comment is incorporated, is paramount as it brings these sectors into the climate action arena. And that is unprecedented,” she states.

MPor, in a statement, says that preparing ports for climate change is one of the Federal Government’s strategic themes. “The feasibility of cross-cutting studies involving clean energy production routes and other decarbonization actions has been discussed. The expectation is that these studies will involve potential international partners, which will give ports a new role as clean energy hubs.”

Attempt The President of the Port Authority of Santos (APS), Anderson Pomini, visited Brasília in November of last year with the Minister of Science and Technology, Luciana Santos. The purpose of the meeting was to seek the Ministry's support for the green hydrogen production project at the Port of Santos.

Pomini informed the Minister that, by installing an electrolyzer at the Itatinga Plant, APS would be able to produce green hydrogen using the abundant water available, then store and transport it via various modes, including pipelines, to consumers such as port terminals, ships docked at the quay, as well as companies, industries, and residences in the region.

Pomini added that with the production of green hydrogen, one of the initiatives is the electrification of the quay, allowing docked ships to stop using fossil fuel at the Port. However, there has been no progress to date.