The newly established UK Ammonia Alliance intends to promote the growth of the ammonia industry in the UK, building on the country’s robust research and innovation base.
In April this year, a ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering demonstration was completed at the Port of Rotterdam. In October, two parties, OCI and VICTROL, who participated in the pilot, reached an agreement towards commercial implementation of ammonia bunkering.
The pair have signed an agreement for the investment of $1.6 million for new ammonia storage facilities and import infrastructure on Korea’s southeast coast. Two large-scale tanks, new vessel berths and an offshore transfer pipeline will be capable of handling 1.25 million tons of ammonia throughput every year.
The outcome leaves the global shipping industry with a target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, but – for now – no detailed pathway to reach those targets. The result also leaves a certainty gap, delaying critical investment in zero or near-zero (ZNZ) fuels and propulsion technologies. Despite the setback, work on finer details and mechanisms to be included in the framework continued this week in London.
MISC and Samsung Heavy Industries have received Approval in Principle from Bureau Veritas for their new design of an ammonia fueled LR2 tanker, propelled by PEM fuel cell technology.
ITOCHU, TORAY and Uyeno Transtech have signed a joint development agreement for ammonia bunkering in Japan. Ship management company BSM will oversee the technical management of ITOCHU’s 5000m3 capacity newbuild ammonia bunkering vessel, set to be delivered to Singapore in 2027.
Derivaat NH3 plans to produce hydrogen and ammonia in Estonia via two projects. The first will be electrolysis-based, and powered by an under construction biogas power plant. Part of the produced ammonia will be used to power a rail ferry connecting Finland with Baltic countries using existing railway infrastructure.
