Saudi Aramco, SABIC complete first shipment of blue ammonia to Japan

Saudi Aramco and the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), in partnership with Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), announced the first shipment of blue ammonia from Saudi Arabia to Japan with the support of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Forty tons of high-grade blue ammonia have been dispatched to Japan for use in zero-carbon power generation, Saudi Aramco said in a statement today.

Saudi Aramco indicated that challenges related to shipping the blue ammonia to Japan were overcome, with 30 tons of CO2 captured during the process designated for use in methanol production at SABIC’s Ibn-Sina facility and another 20 tons of captured CO2 being used for enhanced oil recovery at Aramco’s Uthmaniyah field.

SABIC and Mitsubishi Corporation, represented in the IEEJ study team, are monitoring the transport logistics in partnership with JGC Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co and UBE Industries.

“The global energy system is expected to use more hydrogen. The shipment is considered the first around the world, and it represents a crucial opportunity for Aramco to introduce hydrocarbons as a reliable and affordable source of low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia,” said Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, Chief Technology Officer, Saudi Aramco.

Dr. Fahad Al-Sherehy, Vice President of Energy Efficiency and Carbon Management at SABIC, added: “At SABIC, we can economically leverage our existing infrastructure for hydrogen and ammonia production with CO2 capture. Our experience in the full supply chain along with integrated petrochemicals facilities will play an important role in providing the world with the blue ammonia.”

The announcement comes amid increasing forecasts of the role hydrogen will play in the global energy system. Ammonia, a compound consisting of three parts hydrogen and one part of nitrogen, can help fulfil the world’s increasing demand for energy with a reliable, affordable and sustainable method.

The Saudi-Japan blue ammonia supply network spanned the full value chain; including the conversion of hydrocarbons to hydrogen and then to ammonia, as well as the capture of associated carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.