Mitsui, CF Industries plan blue ammonia plant in the US

US-based ammonia producer CF Industries has partnered with Japan’s Mitsui and JERA to build a blue ammonia plant in Louisiana, US.

CONCEPT: Mitsui O.S.K Lines' ammonia-fuelled vessel. Tsuneishi Shipbuilding

The proposed plant is expected to have a nameplate capacity of 1.4 million mt/year of blue ammonia.

Blue ammonia is typically produced by combining blue hydrogen with nitrogen from the air, using the Haber-Bosch process. The hydrogen used here is produced from steam methane reforming or autothermal reforming of natural gas. But the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during the production process is captured, making the resulting ammonia a low-carbon product.

CF Industries expects to capture around 2.3 million mt/year of CO2 at the Louisiana facility, claiming that it can reduce up to 95% of emissions from the production process.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with production expected to start in 2029.

Potential use in shipping

“Each shareholder will offtake the produced ammonia, and Mitsui plans to sell volumes to Europe, Asia, and other locations,” Mitsui said, though it did not confirm whether the blue ammonia from the new plant would be used in shipping.

But the company suggested that ammonia could be used as a “next-generation fuel” in sectors other than fertiliser and chemical production. This broader interest could align with the company's existing push to promote ammonia’s use as a marine fuel.

For instance, Mitsui & Co has invested in ammonia-fuelled ships through a partnership with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), the shipping arm of the Mitsui Group. Separately, MOL has also joined forces with Belgian firm CMB.Tech to order nine ammonia-capable vessels, including bulk carriers and chemical tankers.

By Konica Bhatt

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