Uruguay showcases green hydrogen investment opportunities in Rotterdam

Uruguay once again established itself as a key player in the global energy transition during its participation in the World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition 2026, considered one of the most influential events in the global hydrogen industry.

The event in Rotterdam brought together more than 10,000 participants, 500 exhibitors, and 300 international industry leaders under the theme “Climate, Energy, and National Security: Stimulating Hydrogen Demand to Address Global Priorities.”

For the third consecutive year, Uruguay had an institutional and business presence and a booth at this strategic event to promote investment and develop international partnerships related to renewable hydrogen and the decarbonization of transportation and industry.

The Uruguayan delegation was led by UTE President Andrea Cabrera and Uruguay’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Álvaro González Otero, and also included representatives from the Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mining (MIEM), ANCAP, LATU, and Uruguay XXI, along with private companies advancing green hydrogen projects in the country. Among them were ENERTRAG, a German firm promoting a green methanol production project in Uruguay, and Ventus, one of the companies in the Kahirós consortium. Initiatives related to logistics and port infrastructure were also represented.

Uruguay in the Dialogue Between Europe and Latin America

Uruguay also had a presence at the side event “Powering Decarbonisation: Europe–Latin America Hydrogen Partnerships,” a forum aimed at strengthening cooperation between Europe and Latin America regarding renewable hydrogen and the decarbonization of transportation and industry. The event brought together governments, international financing agencies, ports, developers, and sectoral associations from both continents.

Uruguay was represented by Federico Ferrés, Vice President of the Uruguayan Hydrogen Association, who highlighted the country’s solid foundations and availability of renewable resources and biogenic CO2, as well as Uruguay’s ambitions for the development of this sector. Ferrés participated alongside representatives from Brazil, Chile, and Colombia in a panel focused on national perspectives and project development.

A Reliable Platform for Long-Term Investments

Uruguay’s participation in Rotterdam took place against a backdrop of growing international interest in the country’s potential as a platform for clean energy projects and green hydrogen derivatives.

With an electricity mix composed of 99% renewable sources, after completing an initial energy transition focused on the decarbonization of electricity generation, the country is now moving toward a second phase aimed at the production and export of synthetic fuels and other green hydrogen derivatives.

In this context, Uruguay already has a portfolio of large-scale projects. The most significant is the one led by HIF Global in Paysandú, which involves an investment exceeding US$5.3 billion to develop an e-fuel plant based on green hydrogen and CO₂ capture—considered the largest investment announced in the country’s history.

Added to this is the project by ENERTRAG and SEG Ingeniería to produce approximately 84,000 tons of green methanol annually in Tambores, as well as pilot initiatives such as the Kahirós consortium’s green hydrogen plant in Río Negro, intended for heavy forestry transport.

With these advances, Uruguay seeks to establish itself as a strategic partner for investments linked to the new global energy economy, combining competitive renewable resources, export capacity, and a stable and predictable business environment.