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16 min ago 2 min read
MB Energy’s plans to build a 600,000-tonne-per-year ammonia import terminal in the Port of Hamburg have been approved by the German city.
Hamburg’s Authority for Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture granted the fuel shipper formerly known as Mabanaft a permit to build and operate the terminal, which could import clean ammonia volumes into Europe.
Still subject to final investment decision (FID), the terminal could be built at the site of MB’s Blumensand tank terminal, which already handles diesel, gasoline, naphtha, ethanol and more.
While MB hasn’t firmed up clean ammonia supply plans, the company is exploring with projects in North America.
It would involve the construction of an ammonia storage tank with the existing berth for vessels and barges upgraded to support the handling of ammonia. It would form part of a wider clean fuel terminal project, which could also handle methanol.
MB envisions loading facilities for railcars to carry ammonia off-site.
The fuel supplier is also exploring plans to build an ammonia cracker, which would allow hydrogen to be fed into Germany’s 9,000km core hydrogen network.
It has not confirmed a timeline for FID or construction.
MB first announced the plans in 2022 alongside industrial gas major , which has its involvement in European green hydrogen import infrastructure amid slow demand for the gas.
Germany has ambitions to import of its 2030 green hydrogen demand amid structurally high domestic power prices, making production at home costly.
Ammonia is viewed as a viable carrier for long-distance hydrogen trade due to its higher energy density. However, critics warn that efficiency losses from conversion undermine its use.
Increasingly, efforts are being focused on producing clean hydrogen for ammonia used in traditional applications like fertilisers.
The EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism also now penalises the import of fertiliser products with a high carbon footprint, which could incentivise investments in green and blue ammonia production overseas.
