Japan looks to US, Australia for ammonia supply chain

: Crude oil, Electricity, Emissions, Fertilizers, Hydrogen, Natural gas
21/03/10

Japan is looking to invest in blue and green ammonia development projects in the US and Australia under a strategy to control the entire ammonia value chain and reduce costs in the long run, executive vice president of Clean Fuel Ammonia Association (CFAA) Shigeru Muraki told Argus.

Tokyo considers ammonia as a strategic energy resource like oil and gas. Japan is seeking to establish a global ammonia value chain of 100mn t/yr by 2050 and take full control over the supply chain to meet its growing demand and tap potential demand growth in Asia under a strategy roadmap that was drawn up at a public-private council to achieve the country's decarbonisation goal.

This is the first time that Japan has formed a public-private partnership to co-operate in a major fuel transition. CFAA, a group of Japanese and overseas firms, state agencies and global research institutions, aims to co-ordinate efforts by companies from various industries that are involved in the entire value chain, with government financial, regulatory and diplomatic support in launching a scheme for the new fuel.

"We want a structure where Japanese firms participate in an entire value chain including the upstream part and can reduce overall costs. Ammonia offers the possibility," Muraki said in an interview on 26 February.

Muraki, who is also executive advisor for utility Tokyo Gas, compared the joint public-private effort to usher in fuel-use ammonia with Japan's shift to LNG more than 50 years ago — something that was carried out as a purely private-sector initiative. Tokyo Gas and fellow utility Tokyo Electric Power in 1969 started importing 960,000 t/yr of LNG from the Alaska LNG project in the US under a 15-year agreement with ConocoPhillips, followed by imports from Brunei in 1972 and Indonesia in 1977.

The government later urged and assisted Japanese energy firms to acquire upstream gas and LNG assets as part of efforts to secure stable supply and enhance energy security as the fuel's role and import volume grew. But majors and national oil companies have dominated access to profitable upstream assets, while Japanese firms acquired only limited upstream shares in new LNG projects. These are mostly in Australia such as the Ichthys, Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) and Gorgon projects.

Public-private backing

"It gave us a big help that the trade and industry ministry launched a council to prompt collaboration between the government and private industries in introducing ammonia as a fuel," Muraki said, referring to the speed of the policy development process — particularly in the last 18 months — after Japan started the discussing possible use of ammonia as a fuel in 2013.

New blue and green ammonia development projects on the US Gulf coast, such as Texas and Louisiana, and in Australia and maybe Chile, offer attractive investment environmental and business transparency, Muraki said. A number of Japanese firms have agreed on joint feasibility studies to develop blue and green ammonia and hydrogen projects overseas, including Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Russia.

Japan is also keen to work with Middle East oil-producing countries to develop ammonia supply chain projects as part of its strategy to maintain strong ties and secure stable oil supply, he said. In contrast to US and Australian projects based on a private business partnership, diplomatic relations will also have to be taken into consideration for Middle East projects. The Middle East supplied more than 90pc of Japan's crude oil imports last year.

Muraki is personally interested in ammonia development in Oman, which has potential as a green ammonia supplier because of its ample solar and wind resources. Ammonia supply from Oman can also be delivered without passing through the strait of Hormuz, he added. Japanese trading house Sumitomo in January launched a feasibility study to develop a hydrogen supply chain in Oman.

Japanese demand for ammonia fuel is likely to be initially met with grey ammonia, depending on its availability and cost, as the country prioritises the quick establishment of a market for ammonia. Muraki expects it will take several years for a large-scale blue ammonia project to reach commercialisation and start new supply, including the carbon capture and storage (CCS) process.

Tokyo is considering financial support for costly CCS, prompting Japanese firms to invest in more upstream oil and gas development, as well as in development of ammonia and hydrogen value chains that include the upstream part of the chain.

Hub plans

CFAA is mulling plans for a hub terminal that can import green and blue ammonia on dedicated ammonia carriers and distribute it on coastal vessels to distant industrial consumers, in line with the transport ministry's strategy to develop a carbon-neutral port at the country's six key ports. Three of the six ports — Tokuyama-Kudamatsu in western Japan's Yamaguchi prefecture, Niigata on Japan's northwest coast and Onahama on the northeast coast — hold the potential for a hub as they already have infrastructure and host major industrial complexes, according to Muraki.

But Muraki ruled out domestic production of blue ammonia for fuel use using LNG as a feedstock because of its high costs and limited land availability for CCS. High renewable power prices will also make domestic output of green ammonia unworkable for use as a fuel, particularly thermal fuel.

CFAA was launched in 2019 to develop a value chain of blue and green ammonia for fuel use and help achieve a decarbonised society. The group is expected to work out international standards for the fuel use of ammonia, as well as a certification scheme for the footprint of an ammonia supply chain, over the coming years in the run-up to the expected start of Japanese fuel-use ammonia imports by 2025.

By Rieko Suda

Shigeru Muraki is among the speakers at the Argus Green Ammonia Live – Virtual Conference, which takes place on 24-25 March. For details of the conference programme and registration, please visit www.argusmedia.com/green-ammonia

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

25/04/29

Carney’s Liberals to form next Canadian government

Calgary, 28 April (Argus) — Canadian prime minister Mark Carney and his Liberal party are projected to win the country's 45th general election, but securing a majority of seats in Parliament is unclear with many tight races still to be determined. The Liberal party is on track to take 156 of the 343 seats up for grabs, according to preliminary results from Elections Canada at about 11pm ET. The Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, will form the official opposition with an estimated 144 seats so far. The Liberals seat count is comparable to the 160 won in the 2021 election while the Conservatives are up from 119. If the Liberals win a minority they would need the support of other parties to pass legislation, as they did prior to the election. The win completes the comeback for the Liberal party which just a few months ago languished in polls as dissatisfaction of then-prime minister Justin Trudeau rose. Carney and his experience navigating economic crises resonated with voters as they found themselves in a trade war initiated by US president Donald Trump. The US has imposed a 25pc tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum since 13 March and Canadian automobiles since 9 April. Canada has retaliated to each wave with tariffs of their own. Canadian oil and gas has been exempt from US tariffs but Trump's trade action has led many politicians and Canadians at large to re-examine the need to diversify its energy exports. Trade corridors, pipelines and LNG facilities were promoted by both Carney and Poilievre. Carney and Trump agreed in late-March that broader, comprehensive economic negotiations would happen after the election. The Liberals have held power since 2015, but only in a minority capacity since the 2019 election. Inflation, housing, Trump top concerns The key issues for Canadians this election cycle were inflation, housing, cost of living and international relations — particularly the aggressive moves from the US, according to polls. Diversifying trade and growing energy production have been promoted by both Conservative and Liberal leaders — and prime minister hopefuls — looking to become less dependent on US customers and kickstart a lagging economy. Canada is the world's fourth-largest oil producer with over 5.7mn b/d of output, and the fifth-largest natural gas producer at 18 Bcf/d, according to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). The US is Canada's largest foreign customer of each, but verbal and economic attacks on Canada by Trump have prompted politicians and Canadians at large to reexamine their trade strategies. Poilievre says Liberal policies over the past decade have stifled the country's productivity and allowed it to become the weakest performer in the G7. Liberal policy needs to be undone so Canada can "unleash" its oil and gas sector to better protect its sovereignty , says Poilievre. Carney's campaign had centered heavily on Trump, emphasizing the threat comes from abroad, not within. Carney wants to make Canada an "energy superpower" but maintains current legislation is the way to do it, despite calls to the contrary by oil and gas executives . By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Environmental markets wary of Trump's next moves

25/04/28

Environmental markets wary of Trump's next moves

Houston, 28 April (Argus) — US President Donald Trump's recent threat of legal challenges against state climate and clean energy policies has roiled environmental markets waiting to learn the scope and avenues those confrontations could take. Trump's 8 April executive order, which directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to consider contesting state policies that threaten "American energy dominance", targeted California's cap-and-trade program by name, but it may also extend to other policies, including renewable portfolio standards (RPS). But uncertainty about the extent of the administration's ambitions has injected another variable into an already volatile economic landscape. Market anxieties may not fade soon. US attorney general Pam Bondi has until early June to report on actions she has taken and make recommendations for other steps by the White House or Congress. Conservatives in some states already have asked her to scrutinize particular programs. Administration arguments One angle from which the DOJ could attack state programs is the well-trod "dormant Commerce Clause", a legal doctrine that says state laws cannot discriminate against or impose undue burdens on another state's economic activity. But such a challenge is more difficult if a program is merely stipulating, "if you want to come to our state, our electricity market or our fuel market, here are the rules to play by", according to Matthew Dobbins, a partner at Vinson & Elkins and member of the law firm's environment and natural resources team in Houston. Courts have dismissed lawsuits that tried this approach against low-carbon fuel standards in California and Oregon , as well Colorado's RPS. In addition, an appeals court last year threw out a case against Washington's cap-and-invest program, ruling it did not overstep in its handling of in-state versus out-of-state electricity suppliers. The US Supreme Court may soon decide whether to hear an appeal of the case. More broadly, a 2023 Supreme Court decision upholding a California law restricting interstate pork sales based on animal treatment makes such dormant Commerce Clause challenges "a lot harder", according to Nico van Aelstyn, partner at Sheppard Mullin in San Francisco. The DOJ could try using the "Equal Sovereignty" doctrine, which stipulates that one state's rights cannot exceed another's, van Aelstyn said. This has been used in cases against California's vehicle emissions standards and other states' climate "superfund" laws, which penalize oil and gas companies for historical emissions. But van Aelstyn described it as "not really tested yet." That administration has also been hoping to fast-track Supreme Court rulings on the executive orders by justifying them through "declared emergencies," according to Dobbins. This use of emergency powers will likely reveal how far the court will go to "pressure test" the administration's requests for speedy judicial relief, as justices work through a growing emergency docket through the end of term in June or July. Relitigating the past Amid growing trade tensions between the US and Canada, the DOJ could also revive a 2019 lawsuit against California's cap-and-trade program. A US district court at the time ruled that federal purview over foreign affairs does not preempt the state linking its program with Quebec's. Although the first Trump administration appealed the ruling, former president Joe Biden withdrew the case, leaving the matter undecided with one claim potentially still ripe for judicial review. "What that'll probably come down to is how much Canada has expressed its anger . . . and if the administration is willing to go 'all in' on trying to provoke one of our largest trading partners," Dobbins said. But even if California severed ties with Quebec, the province is a small part of the market, and its absence is unlikely to cripple the state's program. Meanwhile, in the markets… Trump's executive order has put states and US companies alike on the back foot, adding to a "shock and awe" barrage from tariffs and potential rollbacks to federal clean electricity incentives , said Tom Harper, a partner on consultant Baringa's energy advisory team in New York City. That volatility has led clean energy developers and buyers to hold off on decisions until they have a bit more stability. "You're almost in a state of paralysis because you can't go and deploy a team on a project. You can't go and arrange finance because the cost is moving day to day," Harper said. The tariffs have also fed growing concerns about the US economy, which have spilled into environmental markets. The California Carbon Allowance (CCA) market, already a bit bearish because of ongoing delays to planned program changes, plunged the day after Trump's executive order. Argus assessed CCAs for December delivery that day at $26.74/t — at the time their lowest price since November 2022. The lack of certainty around federal legal developments continues to whittle away at bullish signals, leaving market participants to wait for a clear outcome. Adding another layer of uncertainty is the fact that disputes may spill outside of the court system. Following the same logic as of Trump's " national energy emergency ", the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) could hypothetically issue an emergency order to halt carbon and clean energy programs. The recent resignation of a Democratic commissioner, giving Trump the ability to install a Republican majority, could facilitate that pathway. But using FERC to shutter these programs would be on weak legal footing, van Aelstyn said. The Trump administration has no issue using extrajudicial tools to enforce its policies, such as its January pause on federal funding that left states like California — which receives more than $100bn in backing and grants from the US government each fiscal year — grappling with potential budget holes. Two federal courts have said the administration must dole out the funds, but agencies have been slow to comply. "If they can withhold congressionally appropriated research funds for universities because they don't like their policies with regard to free speech on their campuses, what else might they do?" van Aelstyn said. "Withhold Medicaid funding to states where they don't like their renewable energy standards?" By Denise Cathey and Patrick Zemanek Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Brazil to hold auction to recover degraded land

25/04/28

Brazil to hold auction to recover degraded land

Sao Paulo, 28 April (Argus) — Brazil's finance, environment and agriculture ministries will host a second auction to recover 1mn hectares (ha) of degraded lands in all Brazilian biomes except the Amazon, the national treasury said on Monday. The auction will be a part of Eco Invest, a currency-hedging program targeting renewable and low-carbon projects to draw foreign investment, announced in February 2024. The finance ministry and central bank developed the program with the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. The auction is part of New Brazil, a wider energy transition project within the finance ministry. The project aims to finance conversions of degraded lands in different biomes to sustainable and productive ecosystems through private investments. The Amazon biome, the most hit by deforestation, will receive a "customized and exclusive auction" that will be announced later, the environment ministry said. Participants must submit project proposals to the national treasury by 13 June. The government expects to raise up to R10bn ($1.76bn) in the auction. Land-use change and deforestation Emissions from land-use change and deforestation in Brazil reached 1.06bn metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) in 2023, down by 24pc from a year earlier, according to greenhouse gas tracking platform SEEG. These activities have been leading Brazil's total emissions since 1990 — when historic tracking began — followed by agriculture and cattle raising and the energy sectors. There are currently 280mn ha of farmlands, of which around 29pc are degraded. The government aims to recover up to 40mn ha of grasslands in the next 10 years, the environment and climate change ministry said. The Eco Invest auction will finance the first round of the initiative, dubbed the Green Way program, according to the agriculture ministry. Brazil aims to reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions by 67pc by 2035 from its 2005 levels and sees reducing deforestation as one of its main ways to achieve that goal. The country will host the upcoming UN Cop 30 climate summit in Belem city, in the Amazon biome, as the administration looks to lead the global energy transition . By João Curi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Canadians go to polls in general election

25/04/28

Canadians go to polls in general election

Calgary, 28 April (Argus) — Voting in Canada is underway today with the governing Liberal party looking to complete a comeback in polling against the Conservative party to clinch its fourth-straight term. There are 343 seats up for grabs in Canada's Parliament and polls throughout the five-week campaign indicate the Liberals have a reasonable chance to win a majority, which would allow them to implement policies without needing the support of other parties. Latest polling figures show the Liberals at 43pc, the Conservatives at 39pc, the New Democratic Party (NDP) at 8pc, the Bloq Quebecois at 6pc, and the Green Party at 2pc, according to poll aggregator Canada338 on Monday. The Liberals have held power since 2015, but only in a minority capacity since the 2019 election. The key issues for Canadians this election cycle are inflation, housing, cost of living and international relations, according to polls. Diversifying trade and growing energy production have been promoted by both Conservative and Liberal leaders — and prime minister hopefuls — looking to become less dependent on US customers and kickstart a lagging economy. Canada is the world's fourth-largest oil producer with over 5.7mn b/d of output, and the fifth-largest natural gas producer at 18 Bcf/d, according to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). The US is Canada's largest foreign customer of each, but verbal and economic attacks on Canada by US president Donald Trump have prompted politicians and Canadians at large to reexamine their trade strategies. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre says Liberal policies over the past decade have stifled the country's productivity and allowed it to become the weakest performer in the G7. Liberal policy needs to be undone so Canada can "unleash" its oil and gas sector to better protect its sovereignty , says Poilievre. Liberal leader Mark Carney's campaign has centered heavily on Trump, emphasizing the threat comes from abroad, not within. Carney wants to make Canada an "energy superpower" but maintains current legislation is the way to do it, despite calls to the contrary by oil and gas executives . A fresh face for the Liberals and a foe to rally against in Trump has lifted the fortunes of the party, which some critics speculated only months ago could lose most of its seats. As recent as January, the Liberals were facing a 26-point deficit in polls, but the party mounted a comeback at the expense of both the Conservatives and the left-leaning NDP. The Conservatives would likely have to overtake the Liberals by several percentage points to win enough seats to form a government, based on the past two elections in 2019 and 2021. More Canadians voted for Conservatives than any other party in those races, but the Liberals came away with the most seats, owing to their success in winning tight races. The last polls close on Canada's west coast at 10pm ET with preliminary results expected shortly after. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Little impact on Iran urea exports from port explosion

25/04/28

Little impact on Iran urea exports from port explosion

London, 28 April (Argus) — Iran's urea exports are likely to be little affected by the explosion at Iran's Bandar Abbas port on 26 April, with impacts limited to cargoes in container. Most of Iran's urea exports are in bulk, so the impact to exports should be a curtailment of 50,000-150,000t in May. Loading and discharging activities of bulk cargoes have resumed today at Bandar Abbas. It is not clear how long it will take for full operations at the port to resume, but some local market participants expect this by the end of May. Producers Shiraz and Khorasan are the main exporters from Bandar Abbas port, while Lordegan, Kermanshah, MIS and Razi mainly export from Bandar Imam Khomeini. Pardis exports urea mainly from Assaluye. Both Bandar Iman Khomeini and Assaluye ports are currently operating normally. The explosion , which occurred in the sulphur storage area of the port, has led to force majeure being declared on exports from the port. By Dana Hjeij Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more