Pupuk Indonesia announces first renewable ammonia production
By on February 24, 2025
To be used in coal co-firing trials
Click to learn more. PLN Indonesia Power delivered its first batch of renewable hydrogen for ammonia production to Pupuk Kujang in West Java. The ammonia will be used in coal co-firing trials at PLN’s Banten Labaun power. Source: Pupuk Kujang Fertilizers.
Based in Karawang, West Java, group subsidiary Pupuk Kujang Fertilizers has announced the trial production of renewable ammonia at its existing factory earlier this month. PLN Indonesia Power provided the initial batch of hydrogen, with a total of 50 tons of renewable ammonia to be produced and co-fired in an 8-hour trial at PLN’s Banten Labuan power plant on Java’s west coast.
Japan-based IHI Corporation is assisting with technical assessments and necessary modifications to equipment, similar to its role in last year’s successful Hekinan co-firing trials. Banten Labuan features twin 300 MW coal-firing units, and the announcement indicates these trials are the first steps in a process to determine the feasibility of commercial co-firing at the power plant.
This trial is to gain confidence that the [Banten Labuan power station] can also operate using ammonia. Is it more efficient and easy to handle, therefore, we hope this trial is carried out very well and accurately.
(translated by Google) Bernardus Sudarmanta, Director of Business Development and Commerce, PLN Indonesia Power in Pupuk Kujang Fertilizers’ official press release, 4 Feb 2025
If the various parameters are safe, and the test is satisfactory, it is not impossible that we will move on to the efficiency calculation stage.
(translated by Google) Hedwig Lunga Sampe Pajung, Vice President Technology Development, PLN Indonesia Power in Pupuk Kujang Fertilizers’ official press release, 4 Feb 2025
On the other side of the country, another Pupuk group subsidiary (Pupuk Kaltim Fertilizers) is working with Copenhagen Atomics to develop a nuclear-powered ammonia production project. In Bontang, East Borneo, Copenhagen will deploy 25 of its modular thorium molten salt reactors to power 1 GW of electrolysis capacity, feeding into the production of over 1 million tons of ammonia per year.