Japan is going big on green hydrogen: Japan-based Mitsui & Co, Mitsui Chemicals, IHI Corp, and Kansai Electric Power Co have launched a joint study to establish green hydrogen and ammonia production value chains in Osaka, according to a statement. The firms will first conduct surveys and collaborate on developing facilities for the storage and transport of ammonia in the coastal industrial zone before expanding operations to the Kansai and Setouchi regions. The agreement follows an announcement a day earlier by Japan’s Eneos and Osaka Gas, who will similarly study construction of a large-scale hydrogen-derived e-methane production plant in Osaka, Reuters reported.

REMEMBER- Japan will source a chunk of its ammonia from MENA: Mitsui signed an agreement with Saudi mining company Ma’aden last March to become the first commercial supplier of blue ammonia to Japan, and earlier in January the Japanese corporation signed a shareholder agreement with Ta’ziz — a joint venture between Adnoc and ADQ — GS Energy, and Fertiglobe to construct a facility to produce some 1 mn tons of blue ammonia per year.