Yara agrees to supply ammonia bunker fuel to Höegh Autoliners in deal

Ammonia distributor Yara Clean Ammonia (Yara) and global ocean transportation provider Höegh Autoliners, have agreed on a future supply deal for clean ammonia, according to Yara on Thursday (2 November).

In May 2023, the two companies signed a Letter of Intent to partner around the supply, potential distribution, and delivery for consumption of clean ammonia for the Höegh Autoliners’ new Aurora-Class PCTC vessels. The twelve Aurora Class vessels will be the world’s largest and most environmentally friendly car carriers ever built, equipped to operate on zero-carbon ammonia and methanol.  

The partnership follows separate initiatives in both companies in two important parts of the value chain, namely supply and demand. 

“This is exactly the type of collaboration that will accelerate a push towards net zero shipping in the deep-sea segment of the industry. For Höegh Autoliners, this represents another step towards full decarbonization of our customers’ supply chains, and we are pleased to collaborate with a strong Norwegian global player to meet this goal,” said Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners.

Both companies consider clean ammonia, produced either with renewable energy or from natural gas with CCS, as a future maritime fuel with high potential that will contribute to solving the greenhouse gas emission challenges associated with global maritime transportation. As part of the Letter of Intent, the companies will also consider the supply of blue ammonia where up till 95% of the CO2-emissions are captured and permanently stored.

Norway has set ambitious targets for cutting emissions from domestic shipping by 50 % by 2030. In July this year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a historic ambition of zero emissions for international shipping by 2050. Clean ammonia is a solution that can contribute to reducing the world’s dependency on fossil fuels. 

“Being the world’s largest ammonia distributor, Yara Clean Ammonia will be a significant contributor on the path towards zero emissions in the maritime sector,” said Magnus Krogh Ankarstrand, President of Yara Clean Ammonia.

“We aim at significantly strengthening our leading global position, unlock the green and blue value chains, and driving the development of clean ammonia globally. Building on Yara’s leading experience within global ammonia production, logistics and trade, Yara Clean Ammonia works towards capturing growth opportunities in net-zero fuel for shipping.”

Photo credit: Yara Clean Ammonia
Published: 9 November, 2023