Chile energy ministry signs MOU with Rotterdam port to export hydrogen
The largest country on the Western Coast of South America now has a direct link to the largest seaport in Europe.
By Michael McGrady, Maritime Direct Americas & Pacific Correspondent
SANTIAGO DE CHILE — The Chilean Ministry of Energy announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and a partnership with the Port of Rotterdam in The Netherlands. Under the MOU, this will serve as the first agreement on green hydrogen as a fuel and feedstock signed by the Ministry of Energy and a major European port.
“In Chile, we have enormous comparative advantages in the production of green hydrogen, and that is what we address in our National Strategy: we want to produce the cheapest green hydrogen in the world by 2030 and be among the top three exporters by 2040,” explains Juan Carlos Jobet, Minister of Energy in Chile, in a press statement.
“We are committed to the Paris Climate agreement and have been working on the Energy Transition in our port for a number of years now,” said Allard Castelein, the chief executive officer of the Port of Rotterdam. “It is co-operations like these, with a country like Chile, that enable us to take important steps towards realizing our ambitions as hydrogen hub for [Nortwest] Europe.”
“The economic and environmental importance of setting up this trade lane is significant as we believe hydrogen will be important for meeting the climate goals, and it will be beneficial both for the producing and the receiving country.”
According to both parties, the agreement has several goals. These goals include transnational compliance with the benchmark Paris Climate Accords and developing clean-burning energy sources for vessels to modernize supply chains further.
The Port of Rotterdam is the largest seaport in Europe and is one of the largest outside of North America and Asia. The Port of San Antonio is the largest seaport in Chile and will serve as one of the primary terminals for the disembarkation of hydrogen cargo.
