Tsubame BHB: renewable ammonia and low carbon fertiliser in Laos

By Geofrey Njovu on January 18, 2024

Tsubame plans to use Laos’ surplus hydroelectric power capacity to produce renewable hydrogen and ammonia for fertiliser production. Source: Tsubame BHB.
Click to enlarge. Tsubame plans to use Laos’ surplus hydroelectric power capacity to produce renewable hydrogen and ammonia for fertiliser production. Source: Tsubame BHB.

Tsubame BHB, Agri Laos and State Enterprise for Agriculture Service (SAS) have partnered to develop a renewable ammonia and low carbon fertiliser project using surplus hydropower in Lao PDR.

The parties have signed an agreement for the project in which SAS will be the offtaker of all the low-carbon fertiliser produced. The project will be Lao PDR’s first fertiliser production facility using renewable energy. With its agriculture-dependent economy, Lao DPR is currently a net importer of fossil-based fertiliser from Thailand, China and Vietnam (amongst others).

The project aims to contribute to decarbonised fertiliser production in the region, promote the use of locally-produced fertiliser and improve agricultural productivity. Tsubame has developed a commercial electride catalyst which enables low pressure and temperature ammonia synthesis. The catalyst will likely be used in ammonia synthesis for this project.

The agreement was signed during the ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Forum, which took place on the fringes of the Commemorative Summit for the 50thYear of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. Tsubame’s low carbon fertiliser project in Laos was initially announced in 2020 when it was selected for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) SDGs Business Supporting Surveys programme.