Japan maps out ammonia ambitions

Feb 09, 2021 | News On Japan

Feb 09, 2021 (splash247.com) - The Japanese government has today mapped out plans to develop significant ammonia fuelling plans for its utility and shipping sectors.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry today detailed procurement strategies to ensure the country’s power and shipping industries are using 30m ton of ammonia by 2050 in line with prime minister Yoshihide Suga’s 2050 carbon neutral ambitions.

The aim is to start the commercial use of ammonia this decade, and halve the price of the fuel by 2030.

The ministry acknowledged the tightness in the LNG markets in recent months had accelerated its need to seek out alternate fuel forms.

Ryo Minami, director-general of oil, gas and mineral resources at the ministry, said in December that he sees ammonia as “the second LNG” in terms of introducing a new fuel to the world led by Japan.

Japan currently uses about 1m tons of ammonia a year, of which one fifth is imported.

Ammonia is a mix of hydrogen and nitrogen. Japan has this year kicked off the world’s first regular shipping route of liquefied hydrogen, taking the super chilled fuel from Australia on a brand new ship type to a specially developed terminal in Kobe.

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