Japanese trio to develop ammonia bunkering hub in Japan

Japanese conglomerate Itochu Corporation has partnered with compatriot firms Toray Industries and Uyeno Transtech to develop an ammonia bunkering hub in Japan.

IMAGE: Concept of an ammonia bunkering vessel. Itochu

Under a joint development agreement (JDA), the partners will assess safety operations and the required facilities for ammonia bunkering.

The three companies will also obtain relevant permits from Japanese authorities and review the commercial framework for ammonia bunkering, with the goal of developing hubs across Japan to accelerate the adoption of ammonia as a marine fuel, Itochu said.

Itochu plans to engage with other stakeholders in the industry to establish a stable supply chain for ammonia bunkering in Japan.

Growing interest in ammonia

Ammonia is widely transported as cargo but is still rarely used as a marine fuel due to its highly toxic nature, which demands strict safety measures.

In June, Itochu placed a new building order with a domestic shipyard for an ammonia bunkering vessel. It plans to conduct a ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering demonstration in Singapore in 2027 using the new vessel, which may be relocated to Japan after the pilot.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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