Together, Mabanaft and Hapag-Lloyd will examine the possibilities and requirements for the safe handling of clean ammonia as a bunker fuel in and around the Port of Hamburg. As part of this initiative, the companies will assess the commercial, technical and regulatory requirements and engage with all relevant stakeholders. In a second phase, a similar assessment will be carried out for the Port of Houston.
Mabanaft is currently developing an infrastructure in Hamburg for the import and supply of clean ammonia for a major customer, as part of a larger infrastructure investment programme aimed at creating a platform for low-carbon fuel alternatives. Last November, Mabanaft announced its intention to build Germany’s first large-scale green energy import terminal in Hamburg, in collaboration with its project partner Air Products. The project represents a significant step towards establishing an import and distribution infrastructure for green ammonia in the Port of Hamburg. With the aim of supplying Germany with hydrogen from 2026 onwards, the planned import terminal is to be located at Mabanaft’s existing Blumensand tank farm in the port. Furthermore, Mabanaft holds a stake in Gulf Coast Ammonia LLC (GCA), a large-scale ammonia production plant in Texas City, Texas, which is scheduled to come on stream in mid-2023. To offer the international shipping industry a future-proof fuel option, Mabanaft is securing the supply of clean ammonia and exploring opportunities for the development of a corresponding bunkering infrastructure in and around the Port of Hamburg, as well as along the US Gulf Coast.
“We are playing an active role in shaping the energy transition and offering our customers innovative fuel solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” explains Volker Ebeling, Senior Vice President of New Energy, Chemicals & Gas at Mabanaft. “In the shipping sector, for example, we aim to support this transition through investments in ammonia production and the development of the necessary supply infrastructure.”
Ammonia is already an important raw material for the chemical industry and also offers numerous advantages in other sectors such as shipping. The gas itself is not a greenhouse gas; it burns completely without emitting CO₂, releasing only nitrogen and water. As a result, initial pilot trials have already been carried out in Norway to operate ships in a climate-friendly manner using ammonia.
Tony Elliott, Head of Ammonia at Mabanaft, is convinced of the prospects for ammonia in the shipping industry: “Ammonia has the potential to play a key role in the decarbonisation of the global maritime industry. It has a higher energy density than, for example, pure hydrogen, and is easier to transport and store,” he says.
Hapag-Lloyd is a leading global liner shipping company that transports containers around the world and purchases marine fuels directly as a key part of its operational activities. As part of its commitment to sustainability, the company is seeking reliable suppliers of carbon-free fuels in key strategic ports.
“Ammonia is a promising sustainable fuel which, when produced using renewable energy, can become an essential part of the shipping industry’s future energy mix. We look forward to this partnership with Mabanaft and to making progress together on the industry’s journey towards climate neutrality,” said Jan Christensen, Senior Director of Global Fuel Purchasing at Hapag-Lloyd.
Nevertheless, the decarbonisation of the shipping industry is a global challenge that requires action and commitment from all stakeholders across the sector. Global solutions require a global policy framework that supports a range of processes to make ammonia an easily accessible carbon-free fuel.
Mabanaft GmbH & Co. KG is a leading independent and integrated energy company that provides its customers with innovative energy solutions in the transport, heating, industrial and agricultural sectors. The company is active in the import, distribution and marketing of petroleum products, natural gas liquids, chemicals and biofuels, and supports its customers in the transition to cleaner fuels by offering alternative long-term solutions.
Hapag-Lloyd: With a fleet of 252 modern container ships and a total transport capacity of 1.8 million TEU, Hapag-Lloyd is one of the world’s leading liner shipping companies. The company employs 14,500 people and has a presence in 137 countries with more than 400 offices. Hapag-Lloyd has a container fleet of 3.0 million TEU – including one of the largest and most modern reefer container fleets. A total of 123 liner services worldwide ensure fast and reliable connections between more than 600 ports on every continent. Hapag-Lloyd is one of the leading providers in the Transatlantic, Middle East, Latin America and Intra-American trade lanes.
