ATOME Energy PLC (AIM:ATOM) has appointed a financial adviser to structure and secure financing for its Villeta green hydrogen and ammonia project in Paraguay.
Having hired Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking via a competitive bidding process, the AIM-listed company said the two parties will now work to determine the optimal sources of funding at the project and group level, as well as to identify the best partners at the project level.
In July, ATOME assigned its first front-end engineering design contract for Villeta to cover civil and electromechanical works for the adaptation of a substation, following the June appointment of AECOM as engineer for the project and the securing of a power agreement in May.
ATOME noted that Natixis, which is part of Groupe BPCE, France’s second-largest banking group, is one of the world leaders in hydrogen and energy infrastructure funding, with a strong position in Latin America renewables according to global league tables.
It is a member of the Hydrogen Council and the EU's European Clean Hydrogen Alliance to promote H2 adoption, and led the three major hydrogen European IPOs in 2021/2022.
Olivier Mussat, ATOME’s chief executive, said the appointment highlights “the fast track progress the Company is making towards achieving final investment decision for its Villeta project in Q1 2023, in line with expectations for commencement of facility construction by mid next year and the starting of fullscale operations in early 2025."
Natixis CIB’s global head of energy transition & natural resources, Frank Pluta, added: "We are very excited to join ATOME's effort to deliver concrete and fast-track energy transition solutions, and have every confidence in their ability to successfully roll out the multi-phase Villeta green hydrogen and ammonia project, with access to green energy supply and a significant end market.”