Air Liquide and Vopak to Collaborate on Ammonia and Hydrogen Infrastructure in Singapore

Air Liquide and Vopak have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the establishment and operation of infrastructure for ammonia import, cracking, and hydrogen distribution in Singapore.

Ammonia is recognized as a low-carbon fuel for power generation and maritime applications. It serves as an efficient carrier of hydrogen, facilitating its storage and transportation. With an established global supply chain and infrastructure for ammonia production, transportation, and utilization, the conversion of ammonia into hydrogen presents a promising avenue for industry and mobility decarbonization.

The collaboration aims to explore and develop low-carbon ammonia supply chains in Singapore. This includes studying the potential development of ammonia cracking facilities, along with associated storage and handling infrastructure at Vopak’s Banyan terminal. Additionally, the parties will investigate the distribution of low-carbon hydrogen through a dedicated pipeline network. These initiatives align with Singapore’s National Hydrogen Strategy, which prioritizes the advancement of hydrogen technologies with high commercial readiness to establish sustainable hydrogen supply chains.

Zhang Xi, Southeast Asia Cluster Vice President and Managing Director of Air Liquide Singapore, expressed the company’s commitment to partnering with industry stakeholders like Vopak to provide innovative and sustainable solutions in support of Singapore’s decarbonization efforts. Air Liquide’s ongoing construction of an industrial-scale ammonia cracking pilot plant in Belgium underscores their dedication to reducing carbon emissions in industrial sectors and hard-to-abate industries.

Rob Boudestijn, President of Vopak Singapore, highlighted the potential of hydrogen and ammonia to contribute significantly to Singapore’s transition to a low-carbon economy. By collaborating with Air Liquide, Vopak aims to accelerate the adoption and commercialization of industrial ammonia cracking in Singapore, offering another avenue to transition to lower-carbon feedstocks and advance sustainability goals.