Industrial gas supplier Air Liquide and infrastructure provider Vopak have formed a partnership to explore the development and operation of infrastructure supporting ammonia import, cracking, and hydrogen distribution in Singapore. This collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), entails a joint examination of establishing low-carbon ammonia supply chains within Singapore. Key components under scrutiny include the potential construction of ammonia cracking facilities, alongside the requisite ammonia storage and handling infrastructure at Vopak's Banyan terminal, in addition to the establishment of a hydrogen pipeline network for low-carbon hydrogen distribution.

Air Liquide and Vopak assert that their joint efforts align with Singapore's National Hydrogen Strategy, which emphasizes the promotion of advanced hydrogen technologies with high commercial viability to establish low-carbon hydrogen supply chains. Air Liquide, in particular, underscores its commitment to collaborating with industry partners like Vopak to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions in support of Singapore's decarbonization endeavors. Notably, Air Liquide is in the process of constructing an industrial-scale ammonia (NH3) cracking pilot plant in Belgium. This initiative aims to leverage Air Liquide's expertise to convert low-carbon ammonia into low-carbon hydrogen, thereby contributing to emissions reduction in industrial sectors and hard-to-decarbonize areas, thus advancing towards a more sustainable future.

Recognizing the significant role of hydrogen and ammonia in Singapore's transition towards a low-carbon economy, the collaboration between Air Liquide and Vopak holds promise in facilitating this transition. As Singapore prepares to accommodate ammonia for power generation and bunkering, the potential for ammonia cracking into hydrogen presents an additional avenue for reducing carbon emissions and transitioning towards lower carbon feedstock within the industry. Vopak eagerly embraces the opportunity to collaborate with Air Liquide in accelerating the adoption and commercialization of industrial ammonia cracking technology in Singapore.

Vopak Singapore, a joint venture between Royal Vopak and PSA International Pte Ltd, operates five terminals collectively boasting a storage capacity exceeding 3 million cubic meters. Among these terminals, the Banyan terminal stands out as an integrated storage facility for oil, chemicals, and gas, with a storage capacity nearing 1.5 million cubic meters. Strategically situated on Jurong Island, the Banyan terminal serves as a vital hub for various storage requirements.

In October 2022, Vopak Singapore disclosed its contemplation of expanding its ammonia storage infrastructure for supporting low-carbon power generation and bunker fuels at the Banyan terminal. At that juncture, the company reported the completion of the conceptual design for the expansion project, coupled with the commencement of the quantitative risk assessment study, underscoring its proactive stance towards accommodating the evolving needs of the industry and advancing Singapore's sustainability objectives.