A GROUP of companies is joining together to carry out a joint development study on ammonia fuel supply in Singapore. 

Mitsue O.S.K. Lines has signed a memorandum of understanding for the project with Itochu, Itochu Enex, Vopak Terminals, Pavilion Energy and Total Marine Fuels. 

The partners will work to develop an offshore facility for bunkering ammonia, such as a floating storage unit and an ammonia bunkering vessel. The partners will also establish safety guidelines for ammonia bunkering. 

The purpose of the MOU is not limited to expansion and acceleration of the joint development of an ammonia fuel supply chain, including an on-shore and/or off-shore facility and an ammonia bunkering ship in Singapore. The agreement is also a key element of an integrated project that includes the development of ammonia fuelled ship by Itochu with other partners. 

Japanese general trading company Itochu is to promote the development of the offshore facility and lead the development of other partnerships in Japan. 

Fuel seller Itochu Enex is to work on developing the ammonia fuel supply chain and safety guidelines by putting to use its expertise in operating marine fuel supply chains in Japan and Singapore. 

Tank storage company Vopak is to develop an independent onshore facility for storing and handling the ammonia in Singapore. It is to include loading and unloading facilities at its Banyan Terminal.  

Pavilion Energy, which is owned by Singapore state-owned Temasek Holdings, will promote the development of the ammonia fuel supply chain and safety guidelines of ammonia bunkering in Singapore with other partners, through leveraging each other’s experience and expertise, especially in the operation of LNG as a marine fuel in Singapore. 

And Total Marine Fuels will promote the development of ammonia fuel supply chain and safety guidelines of ammonia bunkering in Singapore together with other partners, and the development of bunkering infrastructures together with other partners, by making use of their experience and expertise in LNG as marine fuel. 

MOL also said it would accelerate the introduction of alternative bunker fuel vessels such as LNG and ammonia and invest in renewable energy businesses.