Idemitsu shifts focus from coal to ammonia as a low-carbon energy alternative

Idemitsu is shifting its focus from the coal industry to ammonia as an energy alternative due to its lower CO2 emissions when burned. As a company with experience handling ammonia in the oil refining process, Idemitsu plans to establish an import base for ammonia at its Tokuyama Complex in Japan. They are also participating in clean ammonia production projects in the USA and Australia.

Idemitsu is leveraging its business foundations in the coal industry by conducting studies related to ammonia production and export. They are developing technology that maintains thermal efficiency even when co-combusting ammonia with petroleum or heavy oil. Additionally, they are researching ways to significantly reduce CO2 emissions during ammonia production. The current Haber-Bosch process for producing ammonia requires a large amount of energy and generates high CO2 emissions, which Idemitsu is working to address by achieving a carbon-free ammonia manufacturing process.

Collaborating with the University of Tokyo, Idemitsu aims to establish a technology that can produce ammonia under mild reaction conditions at ambient temperature and pressure in order to mass-produce it. This research and development effort is part of Idemitsu’s commitment to being one step ahead in energy innovation.