Petronas and Jera partner for hydrogen and ammonia

Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Malaysia’s fully integrated state-owned oil and gas company known as Petronas) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today (9th February) with Jera Co., Inc. (the largest power generation company in Japan) for mutual collaboration between the two companies on low carbon energy including liquefied natural gas, ammonia and hydrogen.

The MoU was signed virtually by Adnan Zainal Abidin, Petronas Executive Vice President, Gas & New Energy and Yukio Kani, Jera’s Corporate Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Business Development Department.

“Importantly, the scope of collaboration also opens up opportunities across Petronas’ integrated value chain and beyond the borders of Japan as we seek to grow the use of low-carbon energy sources globally,” said Adnan Zainal Abidin.

Both companies have already set their target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions. In November 2020, Petronas set a target reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Similarly, Jera also announced ‘Jera Zero CO2 Emissions 2050’ in October 2020, under which it is planning to close inefficient coal-fired generators in Japan by 2030. It will gradually increase mixed combustion of fossil fuels, ammonia and hydrogen at its thermal power plants and promote renewable energy development.

Petronas is currently producing blue hydrogen as a by-product from its facilities and plans to explore green hydrogen’s commercial production in the near future. The company would benefit from its geographical position, renewables portfolio and its R&D of electrolyser technology to be a low-carbon and green hydrogen supplier.