Global oil and gas company Shell, the Japanese turbine provider Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) and the Brazilian investment holding Pátria Investimentos have decided to jointly invest US$700m to build and operate the 565 MW Marlim Azul gas-fired power project in Macaé in the state of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. They will set up a joint venture, in which Pátria will hold a 50.1% stake, while Shell and MHPS will own respectively 29.9% and 20%.
The CCGT project will be operational in 2022 and the produced power will be sold on the free market. Once built, it will be fed with gas supplied by Shell's Brazilian subsidiary. MHPS will deploy gas turbines equipped with M501JAC technology.
This project was the first winning project of the Brazilian pre-salt gas energy auctions. It will enable Shell to diversify its portfolio and monetise its natural gas production in the offshore pre-salt fields. Synergies will be created among its deep water upstream, gas and power businesses.