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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.

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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

 

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LNG Bunkering

Malaysia: Port of Tanjung Pelepas achieves milestone with first SIMOPS LNG bunkering op

LNG bunker vessel “MT Paolina Cosulich” refuelled LNG dual-fuel container ship “Bangkok Express”, operated by Hapag-Lloyd AG at the port.

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Malaysia: Port of Tanjung Pelepas achieves milestone with first SIMOPS LNG bunkering op

Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) on Sunday (16 February) said it successfully conducted its first Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering.

This significant achievement involved the LNG dual-fuel container ship Bangkok Express, operated by Hapag-Lloyd AG, and the LNG bunker vessel MT Paolina Cosulich.

“This milestone underscores PTP's dedication to enhancing our competitive edge in the global market by facilitating clean and efficient maritime operations,” the port said in a social media post.

“We are proud to have partnered with PETCO Trading Labuan Co., Ltd. (PTLCL) and Hapag-Lloyd on this pioneering initiative.”

Manifold Times previously reported the port also achieving its first LNG bunkering operation last year. 

The port completed its first-ever ship-to-containership methanol bunkering operation in November last year. 

Manifold Times previously reported the port achieving its first LNG bunkering operation last year. 

Related: Malaysia: Port of Tanjung Pelepas achieves milestone with first methanol bunkering op
Related: Malaysia: Port of Tanjung Pelepas completes first LNG bunkering operation
Related: Malaysia: Tanjung Pelepas selected to join P41 initiative to achieve green bunkering hub ambition
Related: Port Of Tanjung Pelepas joins G2G decarbonisation scheme between Malaysia and Australia

 

Photo credit: Port of Tanjung Pelepas
Published: 18 February, 2025

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LNG Bunkering

Kunlun Energy wraps up first STS offshore LNG bunkering operation in Hong Kong

Kunlun Energy, a red-chip controlled by PetroChina, said its bunkering vessel refuelled container ship “Zim Haifa Blue Stone” with 2,200 metric tonnes of LNG bunker fuel in a seven-hour operation.

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Kunlun Energy wraps up first STS offshore LNG bunkering op in Hong Kong

Kunlun Energy, a red-chip controlled by PetroChina, on Monday (17 February) said it completed Hong Kong’s first ship-to-ship (STS) offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation on 14 February. 

Kunlun Energy's 8,300 m3 capacity LNG bunkering vessel refuelled the container ship Zim Haifa Blue Stone with 2,200 metric tonnes (mt) of LNG in a seven-hour operation. 

The bunkering vessel involved in the operation is operated by a Kunlun Energy subsidiary. 

According to a PetroChina official, the receiving vessel Zim Haifa Blue Stone departed from Busan, South Korea, on 3 February and passed through Qingdao, Shanghai, and Ningbo before arriving in Hong Kong on 12 February. 

Its final destination is Istanbul, Turkey. This refuelling operation can meet the ship's fuel needs for the entire journey. 

“The successful implementation of this "ship-to-ship" offshore LNG bunkering operation is another example of Kunlun Energy's efforts to help improve the international shipping hub of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,” Kunlun Energy said. 

“It is expected to attract more green-fuel vessels to pass through Hong Kong, encourage more environmentally friendly companies to conduct business in Hong Kong, accelerate transformation and technological innovation in the shipping industry, and promote the construction of Hong Kong as a green and smart port.”

“This operation holds significant importance for Hong Kong's push toward a green and sustainable shipping industry.”

 

Photo credit: Kunlun Energy
Published: 18 February, 2025

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Biofuel

Wallenius Wilhelmsen successfully completes its first biofuel bunkering trial in Japan

“M/V Tamesis” bunkered 400 metric tonnes of B24 VLSFO blended biofuel, supplied by Mitsubishi Corporation Energy at Port of Yokohama.

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Wallenius Wilhelmsen successfully completes its first biofuel bunkering trial in Japan

Wallenius Wilhelmsen on Monday (17 February) said it has successfully completed its first biofuel bunkering trial at the Port of Yokohama in Japan.

M/V Tamesis bunkered 400 metric tonnes (mt) of B24 VLSFO blended biofuel, supplied by Mitsubishi Corporation Energy. 

This milestone is part of Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s ongoing efforts to reduce its environmental impact and promote sustainability in shipping.

“As part of our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we have expanded our locations for biofuel supply. Since 2023, the expansion has included key ports in Belgium, Korea and Singapore,” the company said.

“Expanding to Japan enhances our ability to operate more efficiently and sustainably across our global network.”

Wallenius Wilhelmsen has set ambitious emission reduction targets to reach net-zero by 2040. This includes a 40% absolute reduction of well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to our 2022 baseline, as approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.

Yasuyuki Sakurai, Senior Manager, the Orcelle Accelerator taskforce at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, said: “Achieving these targets require a major shift in energy sources from conventional fuels to low and zero-carbon alternatives. Expanding supply locations and securing sufficient biofuels remain a priority, and we are pleased to have conducted our first B24 VLSFO blended biofuel bunkering trial in Yokohama.”

“While our Reduced Carbon Service customers fully support our mass-balance concept, ensuring sufficient biofuel usage across our entire fleet and trade lanes is key to achieving our long-term sustainability goals.”

Mitsuo Ueda, General Manager of Mitsubishi Corporation Energy, said: “In anticipation of growing demand for biofuel in the marine sector, we have begun storing biofuel at our oil terminal in Onahama (Fukushima Prefecture) and supplying B24 in Tokyo Bay using our barges.:

“We deeply admire Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s leadership in the decarbonisation of the shipping industry and remain committed to playing our part in creating a more sustainable future. We will continue striving to meet industry needs through a stable supply of biofuels and contribute to the realisation of a carbon-neutral society.”

This milestone was achieved through close collaboration between Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s Energy Sourcing team and the Orcelle Accelerator taskforce, which has worked for the past two years to establish biofuel bunkering capabilities in Japan.

 

Photo credit: Wallenius Wilhelmsen
Published: 18 February, 2025

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