Mitsui & Co, Mitsui Chemicals, IHI Corporation and The Kansai Electric Power Co have announced the signing of an memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding a joint study to establish a hydrogen and ammonia supply chain based in the Osaka coastal industrial zone, Japan.
Based on the MOU, the four companies will study the development of bases for receiving, storing, and supplying ammonia in the Osaka coastal industrial zone, and conduct surveys to expand the use of ammonia in the Kansai and Setouchi regions.
Discussions have already begun with Japanese steel manufacturer, Kobe Steel, which is a potential candidate that could benefit from the utilisation of ammonia as it has announced a commitment to achieving carbon neutrality in the electric power business.
Through this initiative, Mitsui, which holds the top share of ammonia imports to Japan, Mitsui Chemicals, which owns chemical plants in the Sakai-Senboku Coastal Industrial Zone of Osaka, IHI, which is building a value chain with its extensive ammonia-related technologies, and Kansai, which operates energy businesses in the Kansai region, will combine their experience and knowledge to contribute to the realization of a zero carbon society.