Sumitomo receives MPA funding to support ammonia bunkering in Singapore

Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo Corporation has secured funding from Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) to support research and development efforts aimed at enhancing the safety and efficiency of ammonia bunkering at the Port of Singapore.

IMAGE: Various cargo ships waiting to load and unload at the world's busiest port, Singapore. Getty Images

The initiative builds on Sumitomo’s 2023 agreement with Norwegian shipping company Höegh Autoliners to supply ammonia fuel to the latter's vessels in Singapore and the US. A demonstration of ammonia bunkering in Singapore is planned for 2027, with full-scale commercial operations targeted by 2030.

Sumitomo will work closely with MPA to develop safety standards, operational procedures and emergency response frameworks. The funding comes from Singapore’s Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund (MINT Fund), launched in 2003 to support new maritime technologies and strengthen the safety and efficiency of emerging fuels such as ammonia.

Separately, MPA has appointed a consortium led by Keppel, which includes Sumitomo, to advance Singapore’s first ammonia bunkering project on Jurong Island.

By Tuhin Roy

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