Uruguayan state oil company Ancap has received support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), with a non-reimbursable loan of $ 200,000, for technical collaboration in the execution of the Verne project, designed for the use of hydrogen as advanced energy in Uruguay. “The assistance can be renewed in 2020 because the multilateral entity values the initiative as very important,” said Ancap president Marta Jara.
The Verne project was developed by Ancap, with the support of UTE and the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining. “The idea is to use that pool of clean energy to electrolyze water, produce hydrogen and use that technology for heavy transport,” Jara explained.
While it is a pilot project and the business model is not yet closed, the investments could reach $ 10 million, the official said. Half would be used to produce hydrogen, an investment that would remain in the hands of Ancap, and the other half for the acquisition of hydrogen-powered vehicles, she added.
“Verne is a project that has the institutional support of this Government, so we hope it will be considered by the authorities that will assume on March 1,” she commented.
Jara highlighted the visit of Spanish experts Joan Ramón Morante and Marc Torrel, who represent the Catalan Institute for Energy Research, leaders in hydrogen projects in the European Union, as well as the presence of the IDB representative in Uruguay, Morgan Doyle.
Source: Government of Uruguay
