Navigator Gas, Bumi Armada, Uniper partner on export of CO2 emissions

Navigator Gas and Bumi Armada Berhad have revealed that Bluestreak CO2 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with international energy company Uniper to conduct a joint study on the export of CO2 emissions from a UK carbon capture plant.

Under the MoU, the parties have agreed to collaborate to explore the feasibility of implementing a jetty-moored floating liquid CO2 storage facility and liquid CO2 carrier solution for the export of CO2 from Uniper’s proposed Grain Carbon Capture project on the Isle of Grain, United Kingdom.

Bluestreak CO2 is a 50/50 joint venture relating to the previously announced non-binding memorandum of understanding between Navigator Gas and Bumi Armada.

The partners anticipate that Bluestreak CO2, by using the knowledge and experience of Navigator Gas and Bumi Armada, could design, and ultimately implement, a comprehensive CO2 value chain.

Specifically, the value chain is expected to be comprised of liquid CO2 shuttle tankers capable of loading from and delivering to either a floating carbon and storage unit or a floating carbon, storage, and injection unit.

The complete value chain is expected to transport liquid CO₂ and provide buffer storage capability.

“Uniper is investing significantly to decarbonise our power stations, to meet our ambitious target for our installed power generating capacity to be more than 80% zero-carbon by 2030,” Mike Lockett, Uniper’s UK Country Chair, said.

“We are exploring a range of options to transform our gas-fired generation to achieve this, from alternative fuels, such as hydrogen or biofuels, to post combustion carbon capture. Grain power station is one of the most efficient gas plants in Uniper’s fleet, and retrofitting carbon capture technology would remove millions of tonnes of CO₂, enabling the plant to continue to provide flexible and reliable power to the UK’s energy system.”

Lockett added that this collaboration will play an important role in helping to identify a shipped solution to safely transfer the captured CO2 from Grain for permanent offshore storage.

“Flexible CO₂ transport solutions are needed to decarbonise essential industrial processes, which are not close to pipeline and subsea storage locations and will be critical to get first of a kind non-pipeline projects like Grain Carbon Capture into operation,” he also noted.

According to the partners, the CO2 is intended to be subsequently injected into offshore storage aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs in a controlled manner, with surveillance and management of the permanent storage location.

It is anticipated that the collaboration with Uniper will demonstrate how Bluestreak CO2 is able to serve emitters with no access to pipeline infrastructure in effectively managing their CO2 emissions.

“Navigator Gas will play a key role in enabling Uniper to decarbonise its operations together with Bumi Armada. By bringing the right people to the table, we can leverage our collective expertise to design a sustainable and long-term CO2 shipping and storage value chain. This adds value and reduces environmental impact, aligning perfectly with our sustainability goals,” Mads Peter Zacho, Navigator’s Chief Executive Officer, commented.

“Bumi Armada is committed to achieving net zero by 2050. As an industry leader, we believe that all players need to take an integrated approach to accelerate the reduction of GHG emissions globally. We, together with Navigator Gas, are excited to work with Uniper to design and, ultimately, work to implement sustainable and scalable solutions to capture and store their carbon emissions. We will continue to deliver innovative low carbon solutions as our commitment to decarbonise GHG emissions,” Gary Christenson, Bumi Armada’s Chief Executive Officer, stated.

Bumi Armada and Navigator Gas anticipate entering into definitive documentation for the Bluestreak CO2 joint venture by the end of the fourth quarter of 2024.

The joint venture is subject to the execution of such definitive documentation, approvals by the respective boards of directors of Navigator Gas and Bumi Armada, applicable regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Navigator’s fleet consists of 56 semi- or fully-refrigerated liquefied gas carriers, 25 of which are ethylene and ethane capable. The company plays a vital role in the liquefied gas supply chain for energy companies, industrial consumers and commodity traders.

In April this year, Navigator Gas performed its first ship-to-ship ammonia transfer. Its vessel, 38,000 cbm liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier Navigator Jorf, received 25,300 metric tons of anhydrous ammonia from LPG tanker Eco Oracle, while moored alongside in the Port of Ngqura, South Africa.