State-owned Saudi Aramco and Middle Eastern petrochemical giant SABIC, in partnership with Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) have shipped the world’s first cargo of high-quality blue ammonia. The 40-ton cargo is on the way from Saudi Arabia toward Japan. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) also supports the project to use ammonia in zero-carbon electricity generation. Ammonia contains approximately 18% of hydrogen and emits no carbon dioxide (CO2) when combusted in a thermal power generator.
Blue ammonia has potential as an affordable and reliable alternative feedstock for sustainable hydrogen. The partnership between Saudi Arabia and Japan envisages the entire value chain of blue ammonia, which include converting hydrocarbon to hydrogen, producing ammonia from hydrogen, shipping of blue ammonia, and capturing associated CO2 emissions from the process. Aramco will use the captured CO2 for Enhanced Oil Recovery at the company’s Uthmaniyah field, while SABIC will use it to produce methanol at its Ibn-Sina plant.
