In a series of recent agreements, UAE-based ADNOC has reinforced an emerging, low-emission ammonia supply chain centred on the Middle East. After acquiring global polymer giant Covestro last year, two ADNOC subsidiaries – Covestro and Fertiglobe – will now collaborate on the supply of CCS and renewable ammonia from production sites in the Middle East to global locations.
Samsung E&A held a groundbreaking ceremony for the 500,000 tons per year CCS-based ammonia Wabash Low Carbon Ammonia project in Indiana, USA. In other ground breaking news, the first major equipment was erected for AM Green Ammonia’s 1.5 million tons per year renewable ammonia project in Kakinada, India.
The trio plan to build on a series of already successful collaborations between CF Industries and Trafigura, and push forward bunkering logistics planning for marine ammonia fuel on the US Gulf Coast and northwest Europe.
Time-charter contracts covering a total of four vessels have been signed with NYK Bulkship and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines to transport ammonia from Louisiana to JERA’s Hekinan Thermal Power Station in Hekinan City, Japan.
Mitsui & Co. and JERA announced that they have been awarded CfD funds by the Japanese government to support the import of CCS-based ammonia from the Blue Point project in Louisiana, USA. By 2030 (2029 in JERA’s case), full supply chains will be established to import the ammonia into Japan, for use in the power generation, cement manufacturing, and other industrial sectors.
The EU has set a legally binding climate target for 2040, at a 90% GHG emission reduction versus 1990 levels. But, while the 2030 emission target can theoretically be met with limited modifications to existing ammonia production plants in the EU, new technology pathway choices will have to be made well before 2040 to ensure compliance. We explore some of the options, and projects in progress.
Despite the successes and progress made in 2025, the year remains a missed opportunity for ammonia energy. The first complete supply chains for renewable ammonia are emerging, and some 600,000 tons of annual production capacity is set to be online in northeast China early next year. Maritime engines, cracking, and power & heat technology solutions also made their mark, moving from feasibility into deployment. But disappointing outcomes at the IMO and government support that failed to spark market development remains an issue, with plenty of critical, detail-heavy work ahead of us in 2026.
NH3 Clean Energy and Japanese trader ITOCHU will collaborate over the next two years to support the development of ammonia bunkering operations in the Pilbara by 2030.
INPEX has officially opened the Kashiwazaki Hydrogen Park, featuring a CCUS-based hydrogen and ammonia demonstration plant. The project is focused on local customers for each of the facility’s products: hydrogen, electricity, and ammonia.
