The Netherlands based chemical industry company, OCI, has concluded a final investment decision (FID) on its ammonia import terminal expansion project to facilitate the emerging ammonia demand and to act as an import hub for hydrogen which is imported in the form of ammonia. OCI plans to develop the terminal under a two-stage investment, with the first phase to triple the throughput capacity from current 400 kilo-tonnes per year to 1.2 million tonnes per year. This will be done by focusing on upgrading the existing infrastructure. Total investment cost for the first phase is estimated to be below $20 million, with completion expected in 2023. In the second phase, the company hopes to increase its throughput to over three million tonnes per year. Ammonia, a compound made up of hydrogen and nitrogen, has been identified as one of the best carriers for hydrogen transport, as it can be liquified more easily than pure hydrogen. The Rotterdam terminal is strategically located to facilitate the emerging ammonia demand for bunkering to ocean-going vessels, and to act as a hub for hydrogen imported in the form of ammonia from regions with ample natural gas and renewable resources such as the Middle East & North Africa, in order to meet Europe’s expected future hydrogen deficit. The company has already completed a basic engineering package for the construction of a new ammonia tank, as well as plans to upscale the terminal infrastructure to achieve the set goal. The terminal upscaling will enable the Port of Rotterdam to achieve its ambition to supply Europe with 4.6 megatonnes of hydrogen annually by 2030, to meet the European Commission’s REPowerEU targets of importing 10 million tonnes of hydrogen.
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