Mitsui recently received a commercial shipment of CCS-enabled low-carbon ammonia from ADNOC. This shipment was the world’s first certified bulk commercial shipment of this and it is intended for generating clean-power within Japan.

TÜV SÜD, who are an internationally renowned certification agency, carried out the low-carbon certification process which covered the process from production to delivery. This process is the next step based off of previous demonstration cargos which were delivered by ADNOC and which went to customers based in Asia and in Germany. This step has been taken due to the company’s interest in accelerating the development of global low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia value chains.

This impressive shipment was delivered through Fertiglobe and the cargo was sourced from Fertil, Fertiglobe’s 100%-owned facility, which is located in the Ruwais Industrial City, Abu Dhabi. This shipment will ensure that the carbon dioxide is captured and permanently stored within the world’s first fully sequestered CO2 injection well, which is found within a carbonate saline aquifer.

It has been estimated by the International Energy Agency (IE) that 10% of global energy consumption required for the world to reach net zero by 2050 will be accounted for by hydrogen. In response to this estimation, ADNOC has moved quickly towards the production of hydrogen and it has now become their aim to capture around 5% of the global low-carbon hydrogen market by 2030. The company have chosen to make this decision and in doing so they will be supporting the UAE’s National Hydrogen Strategy. This is why the company have decided to use low-carbon ammonia during this shipping process, as it is the most reliable at-scale hydrogen carrier and potential clean fuel for a wide range of applications. These applications include transportation, power generation and industrial, such as, steel, cement and fertiliser production.

On top of this excellent development, ADNOC has also stated that they have started a new project, which involves designing a facility in Abu Dhabi, which will be dedicated to producing an estimated 360,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen every year. The facility will be designed to do this through capturing 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, in order to meet it’s required amount.

ADNOC Executive Director for Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth, Musabbeh Al Kaabi, commented, “The delivery of the world’s first certified bulk commercial shipment of CCS-enabled low-carbon ammonia to Mitsui in Japan is testament to ADNOC’s commitment to accelerating the development of lower-carbon fuels to support a just, orderly and equitable energy transition. The UAE and Japan enjoy a longstanding strategic energy relationship and we are building on this partnership to enable a lower-carbon future. Hydrogen and its carrier fuels such as ammonia, will play a critical role in decarbonizing hard-to-abate industrial sectors and we will continue to work with our customers to advance these solutions and help them reduce their emissions.” 

Managing Officer of Mitsui, Mr. Junji Fukuoka, added, “We have worked together with ADNOC, METI and stakeholders in Japan to deliver this first bulk commercial shipment of CCS-based low-carbon ammonia. Mitsui has continued to enhance our relationship with ADNOC since we first began our participation in ADNOC LNG in 1973, and recently we have joined TA'ZIZ low-carbon ammonia project. Energy solutions remain a strategic focus for Mitsui, thus, we are excited to commence this large-scale clean hydrogen and ammonia value chain with ADNOC in light of global climate action.”