State-controlled Saudi Aramco has sent the world's first shipment of blue ammonia to Japan, the company said in a Sunday press release.
The product, which the Saudi Arabian multinational petroleum and natural gas company produced by converting hydrocarbons to hydrogen and then to ammonia, will be used in power plants to generate electricity without producing CO2 emissions.
Japan will receive 40 tons of blue ammonia in the first shipment, which Aramco said has "the potential to make a significant contribution to an affordable and renewable low-carbon energy future."
Aramco said 30 tons of CO2 captured during the process of producing the blue ammonia will be used by its petrochemicals affiliate Sabic to produce methanol. Another 20 tons of captured CO2 will be used for enhanced oil recovery at Aramco's Uthmaniyah field.
The blue ammonia has been produced and shipped as part a joint project between Aramco, Sabic and Japanese energy think-tank IEEJ. Trade and Industry Ministry of Japan is backing the project.
Japan aims to be a world-leader in the use of hydrogen, which is contained in ammonia. The country has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 26% by 2030 from 2013 levels, under the Paris climate pact.
