Mitsui : Feasibility Study for Demonstration Project of Green Ammonia Production in Chile Adopted by NEDO

A Feasibility Study for a demonstration project of green ammonia production in Chile conducted by Mitsui & Co., Ltd. ("Mitsui", Head Office: Tokyo, President and CEO: Kenichi Hori) and Toyo Engineering Corporation ("Toyo", Head Office: Chiba, President & CEO: Haruo Nagamatsu) has been adopted by the National Research and Development Agency, and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization ("NEDO", Head Office: Kanagawa, Chairperson: Hiroaki Ishizuka), as one of the "International Demonstration Project on Japan's Energy Efficiency Technologies". Upon adoption, starting from March 2023, Mitsui and Toyo will commence the study.

This Demonstration Project, in cooperation with the Chilean Company Enaex S.A, involves the construction of an ammonia demonstration plant (18,000 tons/year) in Tocopilla, Northern Chile, and verification of technology to stabilize the production of ammonia using solar power generation with variable output. After evaluation for business by NEDO, we will initiate the construction work of said plant and aim to complete construction by 2025.

Northern Chile has high potential for solar power compared to other parts of the globe, and the country is expected to produce cost-competitive green hydrogen and ammonia by utilizing abundant renewable energy. The Chilean government is also actively supporting green-related industries by introducing several subsidies. In the near future, Mitsui and Enaex have a plan to build a commercial scale green ammonia plant based on the knowledge and experience gained from this Demonstration Project, as well as ammonia business experience over the last 50 years and knowledge on renewable energy projects, thereby contributing to further decarbonization.

Mitsui has formulated its goal to achieve net-zero emissions as the vision for 2050, and aims to halve its greenhouse gas (GHG) impact by 2030 compared to the fiscal year ended March 2020. Through this project and other GHG reduction initiatives, Mitsui will contribute to the realization of a carbon neutral society.