Seven companies, including Shikoku Electric Power Co., are considering developing the Namikata Terminal, a distribution base for petroleum and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, as a supply base for clean energy. Convert existing LPG tanks to ammonia tanks. We aim to realize a hub terminal that can handle about 1 million tons of ammonia per year by 2030.
Namikata Terminal handling LPG and petroleum products (from press release materials)
Shikoku Electric Power, Taiyo Oil, Taiyo Nippon Sanso, Mazda, Mitsubishi Corporation, Namikata Terminal, and Mitsubishi Corporation Clean Energy will set up a "Fuel Ammonia Introduction/Utilization Council based at Namikata Terminal" on the 14th. announced an agreement. Mitsubishi Corporation and Shikoku Electric Power Co. will jointly serve as the secretariat.
With a target of 2030, the council will organize schedules and legal and regulatory issues, efficiently utilize the Namikata terminal, and consider measures to increase demand. Ehime Prefecture and Imabari, Saijo, Niihama, and Shikokuchuo Cities in the prefecture will participate as observers.
Namikata Terminal is operated by Mitsubishi Corporation and some oil-related facilities owned by Taiyo Oil. We handle about 1 million tons of LPG and petroleum products brought in from home and abroad annually. It has a track record of being active as an energy base for 40 years. It is equipped with facilities to respond quickly to local demand for ammonia, such as multiple large-scale low-temperature LPG tanks (45,000 tons/unit) that can be converted to ammonia tanks and berths that can accommodate large ships.
Since the government's declaration of carbon neutrality in 1950, expectations for ammonia have increased, such as the use of ammonia co-firing in thermal power plants, thermoelectric use in general industry, and ammonia cracking technology (extracting hydrogen from ammonia) at hydrogen stations. Namikata Terminal is likely to play an important role as a hub supply base for building an efficient supply chain in the Shikoku and Chugoku regions.
