A Norwegian-Ugandan consortium will develop a hydroelectric-powered hydrogen, ammonia and fertiliser production facility. Producing 200,000 metric tons of fertiliser every year based on hydroelectricity, the project aims to reduce Uganda’s reliance on expensive fertiliser imports.
The Egyptian Parliament has ratified an incentive package for renewable hydrogen producers, aiming to pave the way for a rapid expansion of the sector. The incentives range from tax concessions to administrative streamlining and will seek to create an attractive investment climate. Egypt is well-located to play a leading role in meeting European demand for hydrogen exports. It is not alone in this ambition, however. Similar schemes have been launched by countries such as Oman.
Based on Topsoe’s H2RETAKE™ technology, an ammonia cracking facility owned and run by Approtium will be built in Ulsan, South Korea. Approtium has already secured a supply of ammonia via an offtake agreement signed with Hyphen Hydrogen.
International crude oil giant Euronav and CMB.TECH will merge to form a new clean shipping entity. The future fleet will feature nearly one hundred ammonia-fueled ships, including Ultramaxes, large-scale container vessels, long-range carriers and chemical tankers. Further details have also emerged about CMB.TECH’s ammonia fuel production project in Namibia, which is targeting a yearly production capacity of 185,000 tonnes of ammonia fuel by 2028.
ACWA Power will develop a 150,000 tonnes-per-year renewable ammonia project in Indonesia, powered by 600 MW of wind and solar energy. The Saudi-based company also commenced construction on the first phase of its 500,000 tonnes-per-year renewable ammonia project in Uzbekistan, and has progressed development of a renewable mega-project near the Suez Canal.
IHI & Vopak will explore the development and operation of large-scale ammonia terminals in Japan, focused on the cost-effective distribution of ammonia imports. In the Netherlands, Proton Ventures reports that work on the conversion of Vesta Terminal’s existing site into an ammonia import hub is on schedule for FID to be made by 2024. And in other Proton Ventures news, the organisation has been awarded a FEED contract with Geldof to develop an ammonia terminal in Western Africa.
ISCC PLUS-certified renewable ammonia from Fertiglobe will be used in a low-carbon laundry powder demonstration project by Unilever in India. In Germany, bio-ammonia produced by OCI Global (also ISCC PLUS-certified) will be used to produce methylmethacrylate, a key feedstock in PLEXIGLAS® production. The two announcements join a number of supply chains which have now incorporated low-carbon and renewable ammonia.
DAI Infrastruktur and Siemens Energy will collaborate on the renewable ammonia project in Egypt, with Siemens to supply electrolysers and equipment for hydrogen production. In June, DAI Infrastruktur announced that Naftomar Shipping & Trading has committed to offtake 400,000 tonnes per year of ammonia for a decade from Project Ra, meaning 85% of production capacity is now covered by offtake agreements.
Germany and the Netherlands have forged a groundbreaking new hydrogen partnership, doubling down on their common vision of a thriving European green hydrogen import market. The countries have announced a joint H2Global tender worth €600 million launching in 2024, as well as a plan to develop cross-border hydrogen infrastructure. Also this month, a new €4 billion commitment to Africa from Germany will act as the “starting signal” for deeper cooperation on hydrogen & renewable energy. Meanwhile, a recent Fraunhofer ISE study provides key insights into the export markets that are best equipped to meet this new demand.