By Brazil Stock Guide – GNLink said it has completed construction of its first natural-gas liquefaction and compression unit in Assú, in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Norte state. The facility, developed in partnership with PetroReconcavo (RECV3), is in the commissioning phase and has already secured an operating permit from the state environmental agency Idema.
According to GNLink, the unit now awaits final authorization from federal regulator ANP before entering commercial operation. The R$125 million plant will produce up to 100,000 cubic meters of natural gas per day and distribute the fuel within a 1,000-kilometer radius to regions without access to pipeline infrastructure. The supply area includes the states of Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Pernambuco, Maranhão and other underserved markets in the Northeast.
Only about 5% of Brazil’s municipalities have direct access to piped natural gas. The new unit aims to expand availability by transporting LNG and compressed gas via trucks to commercial and industrial clients. Construction generated about 400 direct and indirect jobs, boosting local activity in the Vale do Açu region.
GNLink and PetroReconcavo will deploy a dedicated fleet powered by the same fuel they distribute: three LNG trucks in white and green and one CNG vehicle in white and blue. The companies say the transport model reinforces the project’s low-carbon profile.
“This is another achievement for PetroReconcavo,” said CEO José Firmo. “Over the past five years, we have invested heavily to expand the role of natural gas in our portfolio. It now represents 42% of our assets, helping us diversify and optimize operations. With this new phase, we are investing in autonomous solutions for transportation and opening opportunities for further economic expansion in the Northeast.”
GNLink CEO Marcelo Rodrigues said the unit strengthens the company’s strategy to reach regions without gas pipelines. “The Assú facility is a decisive step in expanding access to natural gas in Brazil. By combining our technical and logistics expertise with PetroReconcavo’s production capacity, we widen the fuel’s presence in the Northeast and support new economic and energy frontiers.”
The 10-year partnership covers liquefaction, compression, storage, transport and regasification. PetroReconcavo will supply the feedstock from its 34 concessions in Rio Grande do Norte. This is GNLink’s third operational unit, joining facilities in Paraná and Bahia.
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