CMB.TECH inks ammonia offtake deal from China

Belgian shipping company CMB.TECH has signed an agreement with China’s CEEC Hydrogen Energy to secure supply of green ammonia to power its upcoming ammonia-capable ships.

CONCEPT: Ammonia-powered tanker. CMB.TECH

The fuel will be used to run 11 ammonia dual-fuel ships, scheduled for delivery starting next year. Ten of the ships are under construction at Qingdao Beihai Shipyard and one at China Merchants Industry Weihai. The vessels are designed to carry ammonia as fuel onboard.

CEEC Hydrogen Energy (CEEC), the green hydrogen arm of China Engineering Corporation, will supply green ammonia from its Songyuan project in Jilin Province. The plant is expected to produce around 158,000 mt/year of green ammonia in its first phase, with production due to begin in January next year.

The project received ISSCC EU certification following an audit by Bureau Veritas earlier this month.

Additionally, CMB.TECH will acquire a minority stake in Jiangsu Andefu Energy Technology (Andefu), an ammonia technology provider in China. Andefu is developing ammonia storage and bunkering infrastructure, and in partnership with CEEC, is developing an ammonia storage terminal in Panjin, China, which is expected to commence operations in the second half of 2027.

Separately, Andefu’s subsidiary, Jiangsu Andefu Storage is building a 49,000 cbm ammonia storage tank in Nanjing, scheduled for commissioning in the first quarter of 2026. These projects aim to scale up China’s large-scale green ammonia logistics and supply capabilities.

CMB.TECH said it will continue to engage with green ammonia producers worldwide to source fuel for its newbuilds.

By Shilpa Sharma

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