ADNOC Delivers First Bulk CCS-Enabled Low-Carbon Ammonia Shipment To Japan

ADNOC has successfully delivered the world's first certified bulk commercial shipment of low-carbon ammonia, facilitated by carbon capture and storage (CCS), to Mitsui and Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) in Japan. This shipment, certified by TÜV SÜD, marks a significant step in clean-power generation.

The ammonia was produced by Fertiglobe, supported by ADNOC's US$23 billion (AED84 billion) investment in decarbonisation and climate technologies. This initiative highlights ADNOC's commitment to aiding its customers in reducing their carbon footprint, especially in challenging sectors.

The cargo originated from Fertil, a Fertiglobe facility located in Ruwais Industrial City, Abu Dhabi. The captured carbon dioxide (CO2) will be permanently stored in the world's first fully sequestered CO2 injection well within a carbonate saline aquifer.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC Executive Director for Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth, emphasised the importance of this delivery. "The UAE and Japan have a longstanding strategic energy relationship. Hydrogen and its carrier fuels like ammonia are crucial for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors," he stated.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that hydrogen will constitute around 10 percent of global energy consumption by 2050 to achieve net zero emissions. ADNOC aims to capture 5 percent of the global low-carbon hydrogen market by 2030, aligning with the UAE’s National Hydrogen Strategy.

Low-carbon ammonia is seen as a promising hydrogen carrier and potential clean fuel for various applications, including transportation and industrial processes such as steel and cement production. Junji Fukuoka, Managing Officer of Mitsui, highlighted the strategic focus on energy solutions and the importance of this collaboration with ADNOC.

Mitsui has been enhancing its relationship with ADNOC since 1973 and recently joined the TA'ZIZ low-carbon ammonia project. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) also acknowledged the significance of this bilateral cooperation between Japan and the UAE.

ADNOC’s Future Projects

This year, ADNOC has initiated the design of a facility in Abu Dhabi to produce up to 360,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen annually by capturing up to 3 million tonnes of CO2. This is equivalent to removing over 650,000 internal combustion vehicles from the roads.

Additionally, ADNOC is collaborating with partners TA’ZIZ, Fertiglobe, G.S. Energy Corporation, and Mitsui to develop a 1 million tonnes per year low-carbon ammonia facility at the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone.

With inputs from WAM