HIF Global Slashes Land Footprint of Uruguay Hydrogen Project to Align With Biodiversity and Community Goals

HIF Global is giving its massive $6 billion green hydrogen and synthetic fuels project in Paysandú, Uruguay a thoughtful redesign. Listening to environmental feedback, the company’s trimming its planned land use by 35% and cutting its impact on native forests by a huge 70%. On top of that, they’re setting aside 163 hectares for a brand-new biodiversity reserve and swapping in compact cooling systems to use a lot less water.

Major e-Fuels output with a low-carbon twist

Through a partnership with Ancap and its subsidiary ALUR, the revamped facility is gearing up to produce a whopping 700,000 tons of e-Fuels each year. It’ll do this by combining renewable hydrogen made through electrolysis with biogenic CO₂—kind of like recycling carbon, but at a whole new level. The result? Uruguay’s poised to become a serious player in the zero-carbon fuel export game.

Big on jobs, bold on timelines

The project isn’t just about clean fuel—it’s also a major job creator. At its peak, the build-out could employ around 3,200 construction workers, and once everything’s up and running, another 600 permanent positions will be in place. Construction’s set to kick off in the second half of 2026, with operations expected to go live by 2029.

Setting a new standard for sustainable energy projects

Uruguay’s near-total reliance on renewables and its tough environmental standards are giving this project a solid foundation. And HIF Global’s latest changes are getting praise as a smart way to blend large-scale industrial decarbonization with real-deal nature conservation. As the global push for sustainable energy solutions like green hydrogen ramps up, this is shaping up to be a standout example of how to do it right.