Japan receives 1st shipment of low-carbon ammonia from Saudi Arabia

Japan receives 1st shipment of low-carbon ammonia from Saudi Arabia

Saudi National Oil Company, Aramco has announced that the first shipment of independently-certified low-carbon ammonia has arrived in Japan for use as fuel in power generation.

The shipment is the result of successful multiparty collaboration across the low-carbon ammonia value chain. The ammonia was produced by SABIC Agri-Nutrients (SABIC AN) with feedstock from Aramco, and sold by Aramco Trading Company to the Fuji Oil Company (FOC).

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) was tasked with shipping the liquid to Japan, then the low-carbon ammonia was transported to the Sodegaura Refinery for use in co-fired power generation, with technical support provided by Japan Oil Engineering Co (JOE).

Ammonia is categorized as low-carbon because CO2 from the associated manufacturing process was captured and utilized in downstream applications.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has announced plans to increasingly harness ammonia as a fuel for power generation and ship propulsion, as part of the country’s 2050 decarbonization goals. The low-carbon ammonia that reached Japan is part of broader efforts by Aramco and SABIC AN to establish a global supply network for this lower-carbon fuel. Aramco and SABIC AN aim to supply low-carbon ammonia to other players to meet their early demand needs.

Olivier Thorel

SVP – Chemicals

Aramco “This is another