Trammo (one of the world's largest transporters of ammonia) will supply green ammonia to Lotte Fine Chemical (LFC is currently the largest ammonia buyer in Asia) after a new agreement was signed this week. The MoU represents the first green ammonia supply agreement in Korea, and is a critical step in LFC's development of a Korea-wide ammonia value chain.
Korean logistics organisation Hyundai Glovis will ship LPG and ammonia from 2024 as part of a new ten-year agreement signed with Swiss-based commodity trader Trafigura. Glovis will spend around US$170 million on two new very large gas carriers (VLGCs) designed to carry both LPG and ammonia.
Among the many challenges for cracking researchers is their choice of material to build their catalysts from. There is hope that cheaper, more readily-available materials will replace the Ruthenium-based catalysts that have dominated the field up to this point. This week two new pieces of research suggest a way forwards using alkali metal-based materials: Lithium and Calcium.
Mitsubishi Power has announced the development of single and mixed-fuel ammonia combustion boilers for industrial applications. Importantly, Mitsubishi also announced that optimal combustion conditions for ammonia have been successfully identified to minimise NOx formation and ammonia slip.
In a national address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the new National Hydrogen Mission would be a key pillar of his government's plan for India to achieve energy independence within 25 years. The plan would mean would mean India produces around 1.3 million tonnes of green ammonia by the end of the decade, requiring several GW of dedicated electrolysers to supply the necessary green hydrogen.
Australia-based Origin Energy and shipping company Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) have joined forces to explore where they can develop the green ammonia supply chain between Australia and Asia. The new joint study (to be completed by the end of this year) will also determine the feasibility of Australian green ammonia export projects supplying key markets by 2026.
Itochu will purchase blue ammonia from Abu Dhabi, under a new agreement with OCI NV and ADNOC. Itochu will also team up with Petronas Canada (subsidiary of the Malaysian state energy company) will team up for a feasibility study into a 1 million tonne per year blue ammonia production plant in Alberta.