Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Ltd., Hokkaido Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.,^*1 IHI Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., and Tomakomai Futo Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, the “six companies”)  will conduct a joint study for the establishment of a large-scale ammonia supply chain based in the Tomakomai area of Hokkaido (hereinafter, the “study”) and have received a “Subsidy for Measures to Promote the Introduction of Non-Fossil Energy (Hydrogen Supply Infrastructure Development Project)” for fiscal year 2024, offered by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. The six companies proposed the study in response to a public call for applications by the Consortium for Resilient Omni-energy Supply System (CROS), the executive body, and the proposal was accepted.

The public call for subsidy applications was conducted with the aim of promoting the creation of large-scale demand for the use of hydrogen and other resources and establishing a supply chain that enables economical, efficient, and self-sustained development.^*2

Going forward, as part of a joint study announced in April this year for the establishment of an ammonia supply chain based in the Tomakomai area of Hokkaido,^*3 the six companies will study the necessary specifications of facilities for cargo handling (receiving and shipping) and storing in tanks at ammonia supply bases, consider the business feasibility of the location as a base, and survey low carbon ammonia demand and its development.

Through the study, the six companies aim to launch an ammonia business based in the Tomakomai area by 2030. In addition, they will work towards establishing an ammonia supply chain spanning the broader northern Japan region, starting from the Tomakomai area, thereby expanding the use of ammonia and contributing to the realization of a decarbonized society and the development of the economy.

1 For this study, Hokkaido Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. is not an applicant, but will be entrusted by Tomakomai Futo Co., Ltd. to study the feasibility of using ammonia for logistics and industrial applications using lorries in Hokkaido.

2 More information on the results of the public call for subsidy applications by the METI Agency for Natural Resources and Energy:
 https://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/appli/public_offer_result/2024/0531_02.html

3 Marubeni news release dated April 25, 2024, “Commencement of a Joint Study for the Establishment of an Ammonia Supply Chain Based in the Tomakomai Area of Hokkaido”:
 https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2024/info/00024.html

 

4 Only the leading company conducting the study is directly listed here.