In a landmark move towards sustainable agriculture, Casale, a renowned global leader in ammonia and fertilizer plant technology, engineering, and construction, has signed a definitive Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract worth $465 million with ATOME PLC. This groundbreaking agreement will pave the way for the establishment of the world's first large-scale green fertilizer production facility in Villeta, Paraguay. The plant is designed to produce zero-carbon fertilizers utilizing 100% renewable energy, marking a significant step in decarbonizing agriculture and food value chains within the Mercosur region.

The Villeta project, ATOME's flagship initiative in Paraguay, is projected to yield 260,000 tonnes of zero-carbon fertilizer annually, powered entirely by renewable baseload energy. This substantial output will cater to the robust and expanding market for low-carbon fertilizers within the world's largest food-producing region, addressing the critical demand from both the agriculture and food sectors.

Olivier Mussat, CEO of ATOME, expressed his enthusiasm, stating that the timely signing of the EPC contract with Casale underscores their ability to meet project milestones and progress towards the Final Investment Decision (FID) expected by the end of the first half of 2025. He emphasized Casale's global leadership in ammonia and fertilizer engineering, expressing confidence in their partnership to deliver this pioneering green fertilizer facility. Mussat further highlighted ATOME's commitment to addressing the growing need for greener alternatives to conventional fertilizers, positioning the Villeta project as a pathfinder for their broader green fertilizer development platform.

Federico Zardi, CEO of Casale, echoed this sentiment, expressing immense pride in being an integral part of ATOME's world-first green solid fertilizer project in Villeta. He noted Casale's decade-long dedication to advancing CO2 emissions-reduction technologies in fertilizer production. Through these technological advancements, Casale is delivering a highly optimized design for the Villeta plant, setting a new benchmark for sustainable fertilizer production at costs competitive with, or even lower than, traditional "grey" fertilizers, thereby paving the way for a sustainable agricultural future. Zardi affirmed that this partnership reaffirms Casale's pioneering role in the industry and their commitment to innovation and sustainability, expressing confidence in ATOME's ability to successfully scale and lead this inaugural green fertilizer platform.

The fixed-price lump-sum EPC contract, contingent upon the FID, reflects the strong commitment of both companies to meticulous project execution. The agreement stipulates that production will commence within 38 months following the FID, aligning perfectly with ATOME’s projected timeline for project start-up and the initiation of green fertilizer sales in 2028. Ongoing project finance discussions are progressing well, supporting the anticipated FID by mid-2025, with construction slated to begin in the summer.

The Villeta site benefits from a 145MW renewable power purchase agreement and is located within a tax-free zone, enhancing both the project's sustainability credentials and its economic viability. With a total estimated cost of US$625 million, the project involves strategic collaborations with industry leaders such as Yara, Hy24, AECOM, Natixis, IDB Invest, and ANDE. This collaborative effort underscores the collective drive for innovation and leverages outstanding technical expertise and global industry leadership.

The selection of Casale, a Swiss-based leader renowned for its ammonia and fertilizer technologies and its expertise in engineering and construction, aligns with ATOME’s strategy to partner with top-tier technical experts for this unprecedented green fertilizer initiative. This landmark project exemplifies the synergy of innovation, entrepreneurship, visionary leadership, and a solid engineering foundation, reflecting the highest standards in project execution. ATOME and Casale share a deep alignment in their vision, objectives, culture, and collaborative relationship, ensuring a unified approach towards realizing a sustainable agricultural future.