Alternative Fuels

Argus Media: Japanese firms look to domestic ammonia bunkering

Itochu Enex, Ube Industries, and Uyeno Transtech have set up a joint venture to supply ammonia as a marine fuel and development supply bases, reports Argus Media.

Published

5 years ago

March 12, 2021

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Rieko Suda of global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus Media on Friday (12 Friday) published a summary on a Japanese consortium which has agreed to study the development of infrastructure for domestic ammonia bunkering:

A group of Japanese firms, including one of Japan’s major ammonia producers, have agreed to jointly work on developing domestic ammonia bunkering infrastructure, aiming to tap its potential as a marine fuel.

Japanese trading house Itochu and its energy trading arm Itochu Enex, chemicals firm Ube Industries and shipping firm Uyeno Transtech announced today they have agreed to set up a joint venture on supplying ammonia as a marine fuel and development of domestic supply bases. The project is part of an integrated project by Itochu and Itochu Enex, including joint development of ammonia-fuelled vessels, as well as ammonia supply infrastructure in Japan and in Singapore, according to Itochu.

Itochu will be responsible for development and construction of domestic ammonia supply bases and ammonia bunkering vessels for the project. The company also is planning to work on building partnerships with Japanese and foreign companies, including shipping firms. Itochu Enex is expected to carry out research and development on possible domestic supply sites.

Ube Industries will carry out a study on the supply of ammonia as a marine fuel and development of an onshore supply facility for the joint project, taking advantage of its expertise as one of Japan’s leading ammonia producers. The company said it is pursuing the project under its 2050 goal to reduce the firm’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80pc.

Ube Industries in October last year formally merged its wholly-owned subsidiary Ube Ammonia Industry, which produces ammonia from petroleum coke for chemicals feedstock at Yamaguchi prefecture’s Ube. The merger was targeted to strengthen its ammonia business and increase business efficiencies through unified management of ammonia operations. Ammonia output at the subsidiary during the April 2019-March 2020 fiscal year was up by 25pc on a year earlier at 385,000t. The Ube operation is now the firm’s sole ammonia production plant, having halted ammonia production in 2014 at its 200,000 t/yr Sakai plant in Osaka prefecture.

Uyeno Transtech is planning to study development of an ammonia bunkering vessel and safety standards for refuelling of the toxic material, banking on its expertise in LNG bunkering. The company is participating in Eco Bunker Shipping, which began LNG bunkering operations in Tokyo bay in 2018.

Japan is exploring ammonia’s potential as a fuel, targeting to expand fuel use consumption to 3mn t/yr by 2030. The global shipping industry is also considering ammonia as a viable alternative fuel to decarbonise the industry, while accelerating efforts to develop ammonia-fuelled vessels that now could become available by 2025.

Japanese trading house Sumitomo this week joined a feasibility study on supply of green ammonia and ship-to-ship bunkering in Singapore. The study is assessing supplying LPG as an initial fuel for the project before shifting to ammonia, and eventually to green ammonia as storage, vessels and barges designed for LPG can also handle ammonia. Green ammonia is produced from renewable sources without any GHG emissions.

Japan’s domestic demand for ammonia is around 1mn t/yr for nitrogen feedstock and industrial use, with domestic supplies covering 80pc of the total demand. Ammonia imports in 2020 dropped by 9pc from a year earlier to around 213,000t.

Photo credit: Argus Media
Published: 12 March, 2021

Alternative Fuels

Olam Agri, Vitol Bunkers wrap up co-processed VLSFO bio-bunkering operation in Singapore

“MV Scion Mathilda” was supplied with 246.5 mt of co-processed VLSFO at the Port of Singapore, comprising 212 mt of conventional VLSFO and 34.5 mt of co-processed CNSL VLSFO.

Published

4 hours ago

August 21, 2026

Admin

Olam Agri, Vitol Bunkers wrap up co-processed VLSFO bio-bunkering operation in Singapore

Agri-business Olam Agri on Thursday (20 August) said it successfully completed Singapore’s first bio-bunkering operation with Vitol Bunkers, using Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) co-processed with Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL), showcasing a waste-to-energy approach.

MV Scion Mathilda was supplied with 246.5 metric tonnes (mt) of co-processed VLSFO at the Port of Singapore, comprising 212 mt of conventional VLSFO and 34.5 mt of co-processed CNSL VLSFO. The product was supplied by Vitol Bunkers and procured by Olam Agri’s ocean freight business.

The fuel was subsequently consumed during a voyage from Caofeidian (China) to Rotterdam (Netherlands), followed by a ballast leg from Rotterdam to Barcarena (Brazil).

Total fuel consumption across the voyage comprised 1,354 mt of VLSFO, 101 mt of MGO and 34.1 mt of co-processed VLSFO. The vessel completed the voyage without any operational remarks, confirming the product’s performance in real-world conditions.

The operation marks a significant step forward in the search for practical, scalable alternatives to conventional marine fuels, and demonstrates that meaningful greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions can be achieved without any change to vessel operations.

Martin Fynbo, Head of Bunkers at Olam Agri’s ocean freight business, said: “The successful deployment of this product, achieving verified greenhouse gas mitigation alongside ensuring operational integrity, serves as a definitive proof of concept. This milestone provides validation to a traditionally risk-averse sector, demonstrating that a previously disregarded bio-product solution can both be operationally viable and sustainable.”

Sherman Yeo, Trading Manager, Vitol Bunkers, said: “This operation proves that co-processed VLSFO can be delivered and consumed at sea without any compromise to vessel performance or operational routine. The mass balance solution we have developed opens up a genuinely new avenue for GHG reduction in marine fuels.”

The co-processed VLSFO carries a GHG intensity of 2.02 gCO2eq/MJ, delivering savings of at least 120 MT CO2eq compared with conventional VLSFO on an equivalent basis. This outcome was achieved with no additional onboard handling or fuel treatment requirements.

Vitol’s co-processing and mass balancing methodology resolves a longstanding challenge in the use of CNSL as a marine biofuel. Direct blending of CNSL has historically been dismissed by the industry due to material compatibility and handling issues. By co-processing CNSL within the refinery stream, Vitol has opened a commercially viable pathway for CNSL to contribute to GHG reduction in shipping.

The co-processed VLSFO used in this operation conforms to RMG380 VLSFO grade and has the same chemical composition and quality as conventional fuel, eliminating the need for additional permissions or special clauses in charter party agreements.

“CNSL, derived as a by-product of cashew processing, represents an underutilised feedstock with genuine potential as a scalable marine biofuel component,” Olam Agri added.

“This trial demonstrates that with the right processing approach, it can be integrated into existing supply chains without disruption.”

Photo credit: Vitol
Published: 21 August, 2026

Alternative Fuels

China: CIMC Enric and Sinopec to team up on LNG, methanol bunker fuels in new deal

Under the new agreement, the companies will deepen cooperation across the LNG value chain and develop bunkering solutions including truck-to-ship bunkering services.

Published

5 hours ago

August 21, 2026

Admin

China: CIMC Enric and Sinopec to team up on LNG, methanol bunker fuels in new deal

Clean energy equipment and services provider CIMC Enric on Monday (17 August) said it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Sinopec Fuel Oil Sales Co Ltd, covering LNG, green methanol, shipbuilding and new energy for marine applications.

Under the new agreement, the companies will deepen cooperation across the LNG value chain and develop bunkering solutions including truck-to-ship bunkering services. They also plan to expand into emerging marine fuels and energy solutions, including green methanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The partnership will focus on five areas: energy-resource cooperation, shipbuilding, marine-fuel bunkering, vehicle-related services and integrated services.

The agreement was signed in Shenzhen on 14 August by Yang Xiaohu, executive director and president of CIMC Enric, and Xu Tao, deputy general manager and Party committee member of Sinopec Fuel Oil.

The cooperation will span commercial implementation, industry development and technology innovation.

The partnership comes as the shipping industry accelerates its transition towards lower-carbon fuels amid tightening International Maritime Organization emissions regulations and China’s carbon-reduction goals.

CIMC Enric specialises in equipment for the clean-energy sector, while Sinopec Fuel Oil leverages the resource and supply network of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec). Both said their complementary capabilities provide a basis for moving beyond a conventional equipment-supply relationship towards broader cooperation integrating equipment, fuels, applications and technology.

The two companies began working together in October 2022, initially focusing on LNG and CNG storage and transportation equipment. Their cooperation has since expanded into marine equipment, green methanol bunkering, storage and transportation equipment, and external gas-source procurement.

The companies said they will establish a regular cooperation mechanism and develop detailed projects to accelerate implementation. The partnership is intended to strengthen collaboration between energy-equipment and energy-supply companies and support the maritime industry’s transition towards lower-carbon fuels.

Photo credit: CIMC Enric
Published: 21 August, 2026

Ammonia

Azane signs ammonia bunkering deal with Equinor, first deliveries due in H2 2026

Both signed a framework agreement for the supply of ammonia and the execution of truck-to-ship ammonia bunkering operations for ammonia-fuelled vessels.

Published

5 hours ago

August 21, 2026

Admin

Azane signs ammonia bunkering deal with Equinor, first deliveries due in H2 2026

Azane Fuel Solutions (Azane) on Thursday (20 August) said it has signed a framework agreement with Equinor Energy AS for the supply of ammonia and the execution of truck-to-ship ammonia bunkering operations for ammonia-fuelled vessels.

The first deliveries will commence during the second half of 2026. The agreement establishes a framework for future ammonia fuel deliveries and bunkering operations supporting the maritime industry’s transition towards lower-emission solutions.

“This agreement marks an important milestone for Azane and demonstrates growing confidence in ammonia as a marine fuel,” said Steinar Kostøl, CEO of Azane.

“Truck-to-ship bunkering offers a practical and flexible solution for the early adoption of ammonia-fuelled vessels while the broader ammonia fuel ecosystem continues to develop.”

The agreement covers truck-to-ship ammonia bunkering operations, where ammonia is transported to the quayside and transferred directly to the receiving vessel.

The contract supports Azane’s strategy of enabling near-term deployment of ammonia as a marine fuel while continuing to develop dedicated ammonia infrastructure for future market growth.

Photo credit: Azane Fuel Solutions
Published: 21 August, 2026