Uruguay to relocate HIF Global hydrogen plant following Argentine claims

The Uruguayan government has officially decided to relocate a major green hydrogen and synthetic fuel plant project by HIF Global. The decision, ordered by President Yamandú Orsi, follows significant diplomatic pressure and legal challenges from Argentina.

The original site in Paysandú was located approximately 15 kilometers from the city and only 3 kilometers from the coast of Colón, Entre Ríos. This proximity sparked protests and a civil lawsuit in Argentina over concerns regarding “visual pollution” and potential environmental impacts on the tourist-heavy riverfront.

Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin communicated the decision to his Argentine counterpart, Pablo Quirno, during a meeting in Montevideo. The project involves an estimated investment of US$5.385 billion and aims to produce up to 876,000 tons of methanol annually using renewable energy. While a new specific location has not been finalized, officials are considering industrial areas within Paysandú, such as land owned by the state oil company ANCAP, to ensure the project can proceed without impacting the shared river landscape.