SABIC Agri-Nutrients, Saudi ARAMCO and Lotte Fine Chemicals Coordinate Arrival of World’s First Commercial Shipment of Certified Clean (Blue) Ammonia In South Korea From Saudi Arabia

Today, Lotte Fine Chemicals (LFC) received the world’s first commercial shipment of 25 thousand metric tonnes (KMT) of independently certified clean (blue) ammonia from SABIC Agri-Nutrients (SABIC AN) and Saudi Aramco (Aramco).

The shipment, dispatched from King Fahad Industrial Port at Jubail, Saudi Arabia, in November 2022, arrived today to Ulsan, South Korea. The first-ever shipment of its kind represents a new milestone in the development of carbon neutrality solutions, with clean (blue) ammonia viewed as a low-carbon alternative to conventional grey ammonia.

“Through collaborations like those with SABIC and Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia is working towards becoming the world’s largest exporter of clean (blue) hydrogen by 2030. Our Kingdom maintains large natural gas reserves and ample renewable energy which enable a capacity to produce clean (blue) hydrogen at a competitive cost – this can then be converted into ammonia,” said HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Energy Minister of Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this year, SABIC AN and Aramco obtained the world’s first independent certification of clean (blue) ammonia and clean (blue) hydrogen production from TÜV Rheinland, a leading independent testing, inspection and certification agency based in Germany.

To certify ammonia and hydrogen as clean (blue), a significant part of the CO2 associated with the manufacturing process needs to be captured and utilized in downstream applications. The shipment of clean (blue) ammonia to South Korea is the first to have this certification and a major milestone in efforts to develop clean energy solutions, advancing Saudi Arabia’s capabilities in exporting hydrogen and ammonia.

Abdulrahman Shamsaddin, SABIC AN CEO said, “We are constantly looking for ways to deliver value to our customers by offering low-carbon solutions. Current global industry challenges relating to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions requires us to continually accelerate the pace of innovation to further strengthen our sustainability commitment. This historic milestone of delivering clean (blue) ammonia to LFC cements our commitment to always put sustainability and innovation at the core of our business operations.”

Kim Yong-seok, CEO of LOTTE Fine Chemical, said, “We believe that this shipment of clean (blue) ammonia will help lay the foundations for a new era for ammonia. LOTTE Fine Chemical would devote continued efforts in making Korea the hub for clean energy in Asia.”