Singapore pushes to set up ammonia fuel supply chain for maritime sector

Janice Lim

Published Wed, Apr 6, 2022 · 07:13 AM

THE Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) signed several agreements with various companies to push for the use of ammonia fuel in the maritime industry.

The first memorandum of understanding (MOU), inked with a green shipping consortium comprising Japanese conglomerate Itochu Corporation and energy supplier Pavilion Energy among others, will attempt to establish an ammonia fuel supply chain in Singapore, said MPA in a press statement on Wednesday (Apr 6)

This includes an onshore and offshore facility and an ammonia bunkering ship in Singapore.

While used primarily as fertiliser currently, scientists have been saying in recent years that liquid ammonia has the potential to be an ideal zero-carbon fuel for international shipping in the future.

The second MOU with Itochu Corporation and 15 other port authorities, research and development centres, as well as other shipping and energy companies, will establish a platform for parties to exchange views and harmonise ammonia bunkering safety guidelines in these participating ports.

The third MOU with Sabre Consortium, another green shipping consortium comprising the American Bureau of Shipping and Keppel Offshore and Marine among other companies, will work on development works for the integrated ammonia supply chain, with the goal of starting ammonia bunkering within this decade.

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These agreements were signed during the Singapore Maritime Week, which started on Monday.

In other maritime decarbonisation efforts, the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) also signed several agreements to support maritime decarbonisation.

British oil and gas giant BP joined the non-profit group based in Singapore as a strategic partner and has committed S$10 million in cash over 5 years.

Consulting company Boston Consulting Group and energy company Chevron have also signed on to bring in an additional S$15 million in cash and in-kind contributions through impact partnerships.

Together with the S$130 million committed from the centre's founding and strategic partners, these funds will go towards organising maritime decarbonisation trials and pilots.

The International Chamber of Shipping and the Singapore Shipping Association have also agreed to be GCMD's coalition partners, which will allow the centre to tap their network and expertise.

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