Woodside, partners eye ammonia supply chain from Australia to Japan

Australia’s Woodside Energy and six Japanese companies have signed a joint research agreement to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of a lower-emissions fuel ammonia supply chain from Australia to Japan.

Japanese companies that participate in the project are Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), Marubeni Corporation, Hokuriku Electric Power Company, The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. and Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc.

The agreement covers Phase 2 of the last year’s feasibility study on the entire supply chain, including the production of lower-emissions ammonia in Australia from natural gas with CO2 abatement methods such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), and biosequestration; marine transportation to Japan; ammonia’s utilization as a fuel for power generation and marine use; and financing.

Woodside, JOGMEC, Marubeni, Hokuriku Electric and Kansai Electric conducted the study last year, seeking to address the feasibility of establishing a supply chain in relation to economics and CO2 emission reduction.

Now, in Phase 2 of the project, seven parties, including Tohoku Electric and Hokkaido Electric as new participants, will conduct a further detailed feasibility study to inform the viability of establishing a lower-emissions fuel ammonia supply chain based on the results of the feasibility study conducted the previous year.

All parties participating in this project will continue the research already conducted in order to establish a lower-emissions fuel ammonia supply chain between Australia and Japan through collaboration, in an effort to assist the decarbonisation of the two countries.

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