Peru approves first green hydrogen export terminal in Arequipa with $540 million investment

The Arequipa-based terminal project, authorized by Peru’s National Port Authority, will require $540 million in total investment across five development phases. Horizonte de Verano, a subsidiary of Verano Energy, secured approval for infrastructure including offshore mooring buoys, submarine pipelines, green ammonia storage systems, and a desalination plant. The first phase allocates $120 million with operations projected to commence by the end of 2029.

The facility will produce green hydrogen and ammonia exclusively from solar and wind power, leveraging Arequipa’s position as home to Peru’s largest solar parks. The production process uses desalinated seawater and air to generate zero-emission fuels, positioning the terminal for international export markets. The port component includes thermally insulated tanks for cryogenic ammonia storage and submarine pipeline systems for loading tanker vessels.

Regional Governor Rohel Sánchez characterized the project as a historic opportunity to diversify Arequipa’s economy and establish Peru as a global clean fuel supplier. The authorization resulted from coordinated efforts between private sector entities, the H2 Peru association, and the Arequipa Regional Government, which has provided technical support for renewable energy investments since 2025.

Arequipa is simultaneously advancing a separate $2.5 billion green hydrogen plant through a Project in Assets framework. That initiative encompasses an energy component in Santa Rita de Siguas spanning 5,000 hectares and an industrial component in Matarani covering 161 hectares of regionally-owned land. The larger facility targets annual production of 80,000 tonnes of green hydrogen for domestic consumption and export.

The terminal approval follows Peru’s March 2024 enactment of green hydrogen legislation, though implementing regulations remain pending as of June 2026. The Horizonte de Verano project required a Semi-Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment, with regulatory opinions required from six state entities including the National Water Authority, the General Directorate of Environmental Energy Affairs, Maritime Captaincies, the Peruvian Sea Institute, the National Forest and Wildlife Service, and the Ministry of Production. The environmental study obtained approval from participating agencies during the second half of 2024, with public hearings completed as a final procedural requirement.