By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : April 08, 2025 9:34 am
The Villeta project, with its flagship project in Paraguay will produce 260,000 tonnes of zero-carbon fertiliser per year using 100% renewable baseload power
Casale, a global leader in the technology, engineering, and construction of ammonia and fertilizer plants, proudly announces the signing of a definitive $465 million Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract with ATOME PLC. This groundbreaking agreement marks the initiation of the world's first green fertilizer plant in Villeta, Paraguay, set to produce zero-carbon fertilizers on a large scale using entirely renewable energy.
The Villeta project, with its flagship project in Paraguay will produce 260,000 tonnes of zero-carbon fertiliser per year using 100% renewable baseload power, significantly advancing decarbonisation of agriculture and food value chains in the Mercosur region. Once constructed, the Villeta Project will service a developed and ready market in the heart of the largest food-producing region in the world, meeting critical demand for low-carbon fertilisers from the agriculture and food sectors.
Olivier Mussat, CEO of ATOME, stated: “ATOME is delighted to announce the signing of our EPC Contract with Casale, on time and on track to our project schedule. This underscores our ability to deliver final agreements and marks another milestone achieved as we advance to reach FID for the Villeta Project towards the end of H1 2025. Casale is a world leader in ammonia and fertiliser engineering, and I have every confidence in the team as the right partners to deliver our flagship project in Paraguay, the first green fertiliser facility of its kind.”
“ATOME is addressing significant existing and projected demand for greener alternatives to fossil-fuel-produced fertiliser. Our Villeta Project will be our pathfinder as we continue executing on our wider pipeline of projects to build the leading green fertiliser development platform.”
Federico Zardi, CEO of Casale, also commented: "We at Casale are immensely proud to be an integral part of ATOME’s world-first green solid fertiliser Villeta project in Paraguay. For over a decade, Casale has been advancing the development of CO₂ emissions-reduction technologies in fertiliser production. Through these technological advancements, we are delivering an extremely optimized design at Villeta, setting a precedent for sustainable fertiliser production at costs that are competitive with, or even lower than, conventional 'grey' fertilisers, paving the way to a sustainable agricultural future.”
The Villeta site benefits from a 145MW renewable power purchase agreement and is situated in a tax-free zone, enhancing both sustainability and economic advantages. With a total estimated cost of US$625 million, the project involves a strategic collaboration with industry leaders such as Yara, Hy24, AECOM, Natixis, IDB Invest, and ANDE. This partnership not only underscores the collective drive to innovate but also solidifies the project's foundation in leveraging outstanding technical expertise and global industry leadership.