Toyota Tsusho eyes blue ammonia production in Egypt

Japanese trading firm Toyota Tsusho is planning to carry out a feasibility study in Egypt to explore the possibility of producing blue ammonia, as global demand for the clean fuel is expected to continue rising in line with global net-zero emission goals.

Toyota Tsusho has signed an initial agreement with Egyptian Petrochemicals and Egyptian Natural Gas, which are companies under Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, to study the feasibility of producing ammonia through carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology in the north African country, the company said on 17 November.

This would be the first blue ammonia produced in Egypt, by using CCS technology at existing gas fields in the country, if the companies decide to move forward with the project, Toyota Tsusho said. The company has declined to disclose the targeted date for completion of the feasibility study. It also remains unclear whether Toyota Tsusho would sell blue ammonia to Japan or other countries once the project materialises.

Toyota Tsusho has also participated in a large-scale wind power project at Ras Ghareb in Egypt. The 262.5MW plant started operations in October 2019, and is Egypt's first-ever independent wind power production project. The plant sells electricity to the Egyptian Electricity Transmission.

By Motoko Hasegawa