Pilbara Ports has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Yara Pilbara regarding the development of an ammonia bunkering hub in the Pilbara in Western Australia.
Under the MOU, the two parties will work collaboratively on government and stakeholder advocacy, developing a training program in safe ammonia handling, and in the planning of necessary fuelling infrastructure at the Ports of Dampier and Port Hedland.
"The iron corridor between the Pilbara and East Asia has the scale, stable demand, port infrastructure, and risk management experience to support the significant investment that maritime decarbonisation requires, while the Pilbara has the renewable energy resources, carbon capture and storage potential, and ammonia-based industry to lead in green fuel production," said Pilbara Ports CEO Samuel McSkimming.
Currently, ships do not generally bunker in the Pilbara, instead taking on heavy fuel oil elsewhere for their entire outward-bound and return voyages.
Pilbara Ports said the ammonia bunkering hub will be the first facility of its type in Australia.
