ADNOC and MHI add new link to UAE-Japan low-carbon fuel value chain

UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) have agreed to explore potential opportunities for collaboration on the development of value chains for blue ammonia and blue hydrogen.

The companies formalized their intention through an agreement signed on December 6. Under the agreement, MHI will act as a technology solution provider to support the decarbonization of oil and gas production sites owned by ADNOC and the development of businesses to produce blue hydrogen and blue ammonia while creating demand for these resources worldwide.

The two companies said they will seek to complement each other’s strengths and create synergies between ADNOC’s assets and MHI’s related technologies to accelerate the development of the hydrogen and ammonia businesses and carry out initiatives that support efforts to achieve net zero emissions globally.

MHI intends to do so by employing its technology, including hydrogen-fired gas turbines and ammonia-fired gas turbines, ammonia co-fired boilers, and hydrogen production equipment, and expects to utilize the knowledge it has gained through previous projects such as proof-of-concept testing at Takasago Hydrogen Park to increase the feasibility of products and provide support for ADNOC’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2045.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC’s Executive Director of Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth, said: “This partnership is a continuation of the UAE’s long-standing and mutually successful strategic bilateral relationship with Japan.

“By matching Mitsubishi’s related technologies with our assets, we will not only assess opportunities to develop the important hydrogen and ammonia value chains but also explore synergies that have the potential to benefit ADNOC and the broader new energies eco-system. Our combined expertise and commitment to advancing climate neutral technologies holds great potential to accelerate our own journey to net zero by 2045.”

As part of the UAE-Japan clean fuels value chain partnership, ADNOC has agreements with Kawasaki as well as the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security, Mitsui, Inpex, and the Clean Fuel Ammonia Association.

ADNOC’s Abu Dhabi Chemicals Derivatives Company (TA’ZIZ) also signed an agreement with Mitsui & Co to develop a low-carbon ammonia production facility at the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone in Abu Dhabi.

In 2022, ADNOC teamed up with several Japanese companies concerning hydrogen and ammonia.