The Nippon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) has reported a significant development in the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting a collaborative effort between Korea and Japan to enhance economic and security cooperation. Central to this partnership is the establishment of a joint supply chain for hydrogen and ammonia, recognized as key decarbonized fuels, alongside renewed cooperation in the realm of quantum technology.
As reported, President Yoon Seok-yeol of Korea and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who will be attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the United States, are scheduled to visit Stanford University on the 17th. During this visit, they are expected to unveil their strategy for a ‘hydrogen and ammonia global value chain.’
The collaboration envisions government and public financial institutions from both nations providing funding support for joint investments by companies in hydrogen and ammonia projects, particularly in third countries such as the Middle East and the United States.
Additionally, the plan includes enhancing the maritime transportation supply chain to import hydrogen and ammonia globally, aiming for substantial improvements by 2030.
Nikkei highlighted the shared industrial characteristics of Korea and Japan, noting their energy-intensive industries like steel and chemicals and reliance on imported fuel. The collaboration is expected to bolster price negotiation capabilities and ensure a stable fuel supply for both countries.
The use of hydrogen and ammonia, which emit no carbon dioxide upon combustion, presents a sustainable solution to reduce carbon emissions. However, securing a reliable supply source remains a challenge, which this partnership seeks to address.
In a show of early collaboration, Korean and Japanese companies have already joined forces. Lotte Chemical of Korea, Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan, and Germany’s RWE are set to produce 10 million tons of fuel ammonia annually in the United States, with procurement starting as early as 2029. This project involves producing ‘blue ammonia,’ which is created by storing carbon dioxide emissions from the manufacturing process underground, using carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.
Furthermore, GS Energy of Korea and Mitsui Corporation of Japan have agreed to participate in a project led by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the United Arab Emirates. This project, set to produce 1 million tons of blue ammonia from 2026, will see GS Energy and Mitsui Corporation each holding a 10% stake.
In his upcoming visit to Stanford University, Prime Minister Kishida is expected to discuss the strengths of Korea and Japan in the steel and chemical industries and their commitment to hydrogen and ammonia utilization.
The bilateral technology cooperation will also be a key topic, with a memorandum signing between the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) and the Japan Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. Plans for strengthened collaboration with Seoul National University, the University of Tokyo, and the University of Chicago are also on the agenda.
Moreover, Korea, the United States, and Japan are set to collaborate in semiconductor technology development to enhance computing capabilities.
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