NH3 Clean Energy Limited, formerly known as Hexagon Energy, has announced a major milestone with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pilbara Ports Authority. This partnership focuses on the export of clean ammonia from NH3’s flagship WAH2 Project, located in Western Australia. The agreement outlines collaboration for the loading and shipment of 600,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) of ammonia, marking a significant step toward establishing a global clean energy hub.
Key Highlights:
- Non-binding MoU: The MoU, which will be explored over the next 12 months, seeks to establish operational frameworks and future binding agreements to support ammonia exports from the WAH2 Project.
- Phase 1 Production: The first phase will involve the production of 600,000 TPA of clean ammonia, which will be transported via a new-build pipeline from the WAH2 plant to the Port of Dampier’s Bulk Liquids Berth.
- Export and Bunkering Focus: This collaboration will focus on ammonia shipments for both export and bunkering purposes. The ammonia will be used to decarbonize industries, including the shipping sector, and provide cleaner energy solutions to international markets.
Strengthening Clean Ammonia Supply Chain
The partnership between NH3 Clean Energy and Pilbara Ports is pivotal in advancing the WAH2 Project. The MoU emphasizes the use of existing infrastructure, with ammonia being transported through a new pipeline and loaded onto ships at the Port of Dampier. These ships will include both gas carriers destined for international customers and ammonia bunkering vessels, which will be utilized to supply clean ammonia as fuel to bulk carriers transporting iron ore.
The ammonia bunkering initiative is aligned with NH3’s broader clean energy strategy, aiming to decarbonize Australia’s iron ore exports by introducing a cleaner marine fuel solution. As part of the MoU with Oceania Marine Energy, this bunkering vessels will significantly reduce emissions and contribute to Australia’s efforts in achieving its decarbonization targets.
Project Milestones and Progress
The WAH2 Project continues to make significant progress, with key milestones achieved and further advancements on the horizon. NH3 has already completed Pre-FEED (Front-End Engineering Design) engineering, secured gas supply agreements, and laid the groundwork for CO2 transport, further demonstrating its commitment to driving forward the clean ammonia revolution.
The company is now preparing to enter FEED at the end of Q1 2025, as it moves toward its Final Investment Decision (FID) scheduled for H1 2026. Discussions with strategic partners and potential offtake customers are already underway, with over a dozen companies expressing interest in the project.
NH3’s Vision for Clean Energy
The WAH2 Project is NH3 Clean Energy’s flagship initiative to deliver low-emissions ammonia to the Asia-Pacific region, catering to markets such as Japan and South Korea. This clean ammonia will serve as a decarbonized fuel source for both industrial sectors and marine fuel for bulk carriers, marking a critical step in reducing emissions across key sectors of the global economy.
NH3’s Chairman, Charles Whitfield, highlighted the growing enthusiasm from Pilbara Ports to become a key player in handling and exporting clean ammonia. He expressed confidence that the momentum of the project will continue to build, with a focused approach toward meeting upcoming project milestones.
The WAH2 Project is following a well-established timeline, with critical stages mapped out. Following the completion of the scoping study and preliminary feasibility studies in 2023, the focus now shifts to the ongoing Pre-FEED studies and securing additional commercial agreements ahead of the FEED phase in early 2025. The company is actively engaged with more than a dozen potential partners and expects a continued flow of updates as these discussions evolve.
NH3 Clean Energy remains dedicated to advancing its clean energy solutions and positioning itself at the forefront of the transition to a sustainable energy future. With a clear roadmap to FID and beyond, NH3 is well on its way to contributing to the global clean energy revolution.
About NH3 Clean Energy Limited
NH3 Clean Energy Limited is an Australian company specializing in the development of clean energy projects, focusing on the delivery of low-emission ammonia for export and domestic markets. Through its flagship WAH2 Project, NH3 aims to provide decarbonized hydrogen (via low-emission ammonia) using renewable energy, supporting the decarbonization of key industrial sectors, including shipping. The company also owns and operates various exploration and project development initiatives, including the McIntosh Nickel-Copper-PGE project and the Halls Creek Gold and Base Metals project in Western Australia.
For more updates on the WAH2 Project and NH3 Clean Energy’s ongoing initiatives, stay tuned for further announcements.
Source NH3 Clean Energy