CEBRI, in partnership with the Consulate General of Belgium in Rio de Janeiro, Prumo Logística, Porto do Açu, and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, hosted the event “Green Ports: Partnership Opportunities in the Energy Transition” last Wednesday (16th). This initiative was part of the Belgian Economic Mission to Brazil and aimed to discuss the current landscape of green logistics in both countries. CEBRI brought together Brazilian and Belgian experts representing the ports of Açu and Antwerp, facilitating a rich exchange of experiences regarding best practices, challenges faced, and the results achieved on the journey toward more sustainable logistics.

This year, the Belgian Economic Mission to Brazil will take place from November 22nd to December 1st, aiming to promote economic and trade cooperation between Belgium and Brazil through visits to local companies, participation in seminars, and networking events. A key focus this year will be discussions on sustainable development, as dialogue around climate change has raised growing concerns about the pressures exerted by industrial economic activities on the environment.

“The reduction of our carbon footprint is a collective effort; no one can do it alone. We realize that it is very important, above all, to unite our companies within the European Union and build bridges with our strategic partners like Brazil so we can build a more sustainable future together,” said the Consul General of Belgium in Rio de Janeiro, Caroline Mouchart, in her institutional opening remarks at the event.

Eduardo Kantz, Director of Sustainability and International Relations at Prumo Logística Global, emphasized the importance of including port operations in discussions on energy transition, a fact that does not happen frequently. He also detailed the objectives and operations of the Porto do Açu while sharing his insights on Belgian actions in the field. “We see Belgium as a country that exemplifies how ports and the surrounding ecosystem can drive a nation’s economy. Antwerp is a classic example of the relevance of ports as strategic assets,” he highlighted.

Matheus Dolecki, Representative of Port Antwerp-Bruges in Latin America, also raised awareness about the economic, social, and environmental impacts of ports on the communities where they are located, as well as the importance of decarbonization to ensure that these populations can continue to enjoy local resources in a healthy and sustainable way. “We are the second largest port in Europe, the largest exporting port on the continent, the largest port operating vehicles in the world, and we also have the LNG terminal in Zeebrugge, which ensures energy supply and security for Europe. We have numerous sustainable initiatives and are aligned with European policies under the new green pact aiming for zero emissions by 2050, and we aspire to become the hydrogen import distribution hub in Europe,” Dolecki explained.

The event featured opening remarks from Lea Reichert, Deputy Director of Projects at CEBRI, and two thematic panels moderated by Rafaela Guedes, Senior Fellow at CEBRI, along with presentations by Sébastien Lahouste, CEO of Fluxys Brasil; Tiago Ferreira, Head of the Logistics and Transportation Department at BNDES; Ricardo Delfim, Commercial Director of Jan De Nul Brasil; Disney Barroca, Executive Director of DEME Brasil; Maartje Driessens, Manager of International Relations at Porto do Açu; and Matheus Noronha, Head of Offshore Wind Energy at ABEEólica.