Mitsubishi and JERA to explore ammonia bunkering in Singapore

Mitsubishi and JERA intend to supply green electricity and build an ammonia bunkering terminal in Singapore.

PHOTO: Jurong Port Universal Terminal (JPTU) has 15 jetties where VLCCs can load and unload cargo JP

Japanese engineering firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and power generation firm JERA have signed an agreement with port operator Jurong Port (JP) to develop an ammonia combustion power plant and ammonia bunkering on Jurong Island in Singapore.

They will conduct a feasibility study on their plans for an ammonia-powered 60 MW gas turbine electricity plant on Jurong, and whether they can can roll out ammonia bunkering.

They also plan to explore ammonia at commercial scale for power usage and bunkering.

This follows an initial agreement between Jurong JP and Mitsubishi for a pre-feasibility study on direct ammonia combustion for power generation which was completed in March this year.

“This collaboration is certainly consistent with the spirit of reinforcing Singapore’s premier bunkering hub status – for current, transition and future fuels,” Jurong Port’s chief executive Ooi Boon Hoe said.

Earlier this year, the Singapore-based Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) said it would conduct a feasibility study and devise ammonia bunkering safety standards for Singapore. GCMD expects demand for ammonia bunkering in Singapore to surge by 2035.

JP operates two tank storage terminals in Singapore: Jurong Port Tank Terminals (JPTT) and Jurong Port Universal Terminal (JPUT). These terminals can store and handle crude products and petrochemicals. It estimates that nearly 30% of Singapore's bunkering volumes are supplied from JPUT.