NH3 and ITOCHU join forces on clean ammonia bunkering vision
NH3 Clean Energy Ltd has moved to strengthen its role in the emerging clean ammonia bunkering sector in the Asia-Pacific, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan-based trading house ITOCHU Corporation for cooperation on the company’s WAH2 Project. The MoU sets out a 2-year collaboration focused on developing clean ammonia bunkering operations in Western Australia’s Pilbara region by 2030, alongside supplying clean ammonia to bunkering hubs that ITOCHU is working to establish across the wider Asia-Pacific.
Under the MoU, the parties will work to aggregate about 300,000 tonnes per annum of ammonia demand, to be supplied from NH3’s planned WAH2 development. The agreement also provides a framework to examine business models across the supply chain, including potential equity participation and financing structures, with the objective of supporting a final investment decision (FID) on WAH2 targeted for late 2026. NH3 views the relationship as a key step in demonstrating bankable demand for its low-emissions ammonia.
NH3 chairman Charles Whitfield said ITOCHU had consistently shown a desire to be a leader in the transition of maritime transport to clean ammonia, pointing to its bunkering vessel order and initiatives in Singapore and Japan. He described NH3 as the region’s leading clean ammonia project and said the partnership with ITOCHU would target the “huge market potential” in the Asia-Pacific.
Whitfield said,
ITOCHU have consistently demonstrated their desire to be a leader in the transition of maritime transport to clean ammonia,
“They have already ordered an ammonia bunkering vessel, plan to undertake the first ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering in Singapore and announced a joint development agreement for ammonia bunkering in Japan. As the region’s leading clean ammonia project NH3 and ITOCHU make ideal partners to develop the huge market potential in the Asia Pacific.”
Building an integrated Pilbara ammonia bunkering hub
The tie-up with ITOCHU extends a series of earlier alliances by NH3 around the proposed ammonia bunkering value chain in the Pilbara. The company has already entered a Joint Development Agreement with Pilbara Ports Authority and Oceania Marine Energy, aiming to establish clean ammonia bunkering operations at the Port of Dampier by 2030 to service iron ore carriers on the Pilbara–Asia shipping route.
A subsequent MoU with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Oceania brought one of the world’s major shipping lines, and a leader in ammonia-fuelled bulk carriers, into the collaboration. Together, the partners are working on a unified proposition for ammonia-fuelled shipping that could help Australian iron ore exporters address Scope 3 emissions associated with the transport of their product to Asian markets.
ITOCHU’s early-mover role in ammonia bunkering
ITOCHU is regarded as one of the early movers in ammonia bunkering infrastructure. Recent initiatives highlighted alongside the MoU include a shipbuilding contract for a 5,000 cubic metre ammonia bunkering vessel, a joint development agreement with MOL aimed at demonstrating ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering in Singapore, and another agreement with Toray Industries and Uyeno Transtech to advance ammonia bunkering hubs in Japan.
These projects are designed to support the wider adoption of ammonia as a marine fuel and to contribute to decarbonisation across international shipping routes. By aligning with ITOCHU, NH3 is seeking to position WAH2 as a strategic supplier into these emerging regional bunkering networks.
WAH2 advances toward key investment milestone
ITOCHU’s Takeo Akamatsu said NH3 brought strong relationships with key Australian stakeholders and a comprehensive supply-chain concept, and that ITOCHU was pleased to support the introduction of ammonia bunkering operations at Pilbara ports known for their high export volumes.
Akamatsu said,
NH3 leverages robust partnerships with key Australian stakeholders and brings the concept of a comprehensive clean ammonia supply chain.
”We are pleased to support the introduction of ammonia bunkering operations at the Pilbara ports, which are renowned for their significant export volumes,”
WAH2 remains NH3’s flagship development, intended to deliver low-emissions ammonia into export markets such as Japan and South Korea and to provide bunker fuel for bulk carriers transporting iron ore from Australia to Asia.
The project has completed a scoping study and preliminary feasibility study and is now in pre-FEED, with front-end engineering and design scheduled to start in 2025. NH3 plans to host an investor webinar on December 9, 2025, to provide a broader update on WAH2 and its latest commercial milestones.
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NH3 and ITOCHU join forces on clean ammonia bunkering vision, source
