New ammonia partnerships in Japan, Indonesia

JGC Corporation has entered into a series of new ammonia partnerships.

KBR: technology license, pilot project in Fukushima

In late April, JGC and KBR signed an agreement allowing the former to use KBR’s licensed technology in future “engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects for ammonia manufacturing plants, starting from the conceptual stage”. In anticipation of the announcement notes the rising demand for fuel ammonia in Japan.

This was followed last month by a project announcement in Fukushima, Japan. Details are limited at this early stage, but KBR’s K-GreeN® ammonia production technology will be used in a pilot project being led by JGC and funded by NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund:

JGC is making various efforts to promote the use of hydrogen and ammonia, which are expected to contribute to [the] decarbonization of society. JGC started green chemical plant demonstration projects utilizing large-scale hydrogen production systems with Asahi Kasei Corporation under the “Green Innovation Fund” by NEDO. In the green ammonia project, Asahi Kasei supplies green hydrogen from its large-scale alkaline water electrolysis system at the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R) to the ammonia plant.

Fukushima project details from KBR’s official press release, 11 May 2022

TOYO: alliance for fuel ammonia projects

JGC and TOYO Corporation have signed an alliance agreement for developing fuel ammonia projects and ammonia import terminals in Japan. The pair hopes the alliance “speedily demonstrates” to any potential new operators that the expertise & capacity currently exists to bring new projects to life, and meet the Japanese government’s growing ambitions for the use of fuel ammonia.

In other interesting news from TOYO, the organisation will shortly begin a feasibility study for renewable ammonia production in Indonesia. METI has awarded funds for the study, which will be carried out in collaboration with Pupuk Indonesia, the country’s state-owned fertiliser manufacturer. The study will focus on retrofitting the existing PT PIM fertiliser plant in Aceh province, Sumatra (which TOYO constructed earlier this century) to be run entirely on renewable energy. It’s not specified whether electrolysis pathways will be involved. If successful, the modifications will be applied to other existing plants built by TOYO.

Pertamina: contributing to a carbon-free Indonesian society

And – speaking of Indonesia – JGC will work with Indonesia’s national energy organisation Pertamina to realize key decarbonisation projects in the country, including hydrogen, ammonia, CCUS, and biogas. No specific project announcements were made. The new agreement is a result of government-led talks between Asian countries participating in the “Green Growth Partnership”, which launched late last year.