The International Finance Corporation has approved its share of a $630mn financing package for ATOME’s flagship low-carbon fertiliser plant in Villeta, Paraguay, marking a key milestone for what is set to become one of Latin America’s largest green ammonia and fertiliser facilities.
The UK-listed developer, ATOME Energy (AIM: ATOM), said the IFC Board had approved up to $100mn in a mix of concessional debt and project-level equity for the 260,000-tonne-a-year plant. The decision represents a further step towards completing the project’s full funding structure ahead of a targeted final investment decision before year-end.
The Villeta project has attracted backing from several major development finance institutions. Alongside IFC, lenders include the European Investment Bank, IDB Invest—the private-sector arm of the Inter-American Development Bank – FMO, the Dutch development bank, and the Green Climate Fund.
IFC, part of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development body focused on private-sector investment in emerging markets. In 2024 it committed more than $9bn in long-term climate finance and currently holds about $17bn in exposure across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Olivier Mussat, ATOME’s chief executive, said the IFC’s approval “is another strong endorsement of the project’s maturity, bankability and positive development impact.” He added that the company “remains focused on achieving FID before the end of the year.”