In Australia, on June 17, Pilbara Ports released a strategy to establish the country’s first clean fuel bunkering hub, aiming to cut emissions from the region’s 7,700 annual bulk carrier visits by up to 94%, from over nine million tonnes of CO₂ to less than 560,000 tonnes, by transitioning to low-carbon ammonia fuel.
The plan builds on Pilbara Ports Authority’s network of three major ports: Port Hedland, Dampier, and Ashburton. Together, they handled over 700 million tonnes of cargo last year, mainly iron ore and LNG exports to Asia. “By enabling clean fuel bunkering in the Pilbara, we are helping global shipping reduce emissions while unlocking new economic and industrial opportunities for the State,” said Ports Minister Stephen Dawson.
Major ammonia producers have endorsed the effort. “With operations in place and a renewable plant underway, Yara supports Pilbara Ports’ strategy to decarbonize iron ore with clean fuels,” said Yara Clean Ammonia. NH3 Clean Energy Ltd called it “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Mining giant Rio Tinto added, “The Pilbara Ports Clean Fuel Bunkering Hub… has the potential to conveniently connect low-carbon ammonia production to a complementary demand base while bolstering regional development.”
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Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
