MOL, NH3 Clean Energy, and Oceania Partner to Develop Ammonia Bunkering Hub in Western Australia

Tokyo / Perth, 8 October 2025 — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NH3 Clean Energy Limited and Oceania Marine Energy to jointly advance clean ammonia bunkering operations in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

The agreement supports the Pilbara Clean Fuels Bunkering Hub initiative, announced by the Pilbara Ports Authority in June 2025 — Australia’s first proposed ammonia bunkering project. MOL becomes the first global ocean-going shipping company to formally join the initiative.

Located in one of the world’s largest iron ore export hubs, the Pilbara region plays a central role in global bulk shipping. Under a joint development agreement, NH3 will supply blue ammonia, while Oceania will manage bunkering operations. The consortium aims to begin low-carbon ammonia bunkering for Capesize bulk carriers at the ports of Dampier and Port Hedland by 2030.

Through this MoU, MOL, NH3, and Oceania will collaborate to facilitate the transition of iron ore carriers operating in the region to ammonia fuel and to support the broader WAH2 clean energy project. The partners will also explore solutions for safety standards, bunkering infrastructure, and fuel logistics.

MOL, which is developing a fleet of ammonia dual-fuel Capesize bulk carriers, will play a key role in implementing bunkering operations and ensuring safety compliance. The company will jointly own three ammonia dual-fuel vessels with Belgium-based CMB.TECH NV, currently under construction at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The vessels are slated for delivery between 2026 and 2027 and will be chartered by MOL for operation on the West Australia–East Asia trade route.

Kazuhiro Takahashi, Managing Executive Officer at MOL, said:
“We are honored to sign this MoU with NH3 and Oceania today, which will be a vital hub for our ammonia dual-fueled Capesize bulkers scheduled to commence operations from 2026. This collaboration marks an important milestone in our efforts to establish a safe and reliable ammonia bunkering operation in the Pilbara region. By working closely with our partners, we look forward to building a robust framework for safe ammonia bunkering and advancing sustainable shipping together.”

Charles Whitfield, Chairman of NH3 Clean Energy, commented:
“We are delighted to have this agreement with MOL that helps to take the clean ammonia bunkering business another step closer to reality. This new agreement reinforces the growing momentum behind the shift to low-emission maritime fuels and builds on the existing Joint Development Agreement between NH3, Pilbara Ports, and Oceania Marine to establish an ammonia hub in the Pilbara by 2030. We sincerely appreciate Premier Cook and his team’s continued support in helping to establish this emerging clean energy industry – paving the way for a more sustainable future for our mining sector and energy exports.”

Nick Bentley, Managing Director of Oceania Marine Energy, added:
“Oceania’s collaboration with MOL and NH3 Clean Energy shows how partnerships across the energy and shipping sectors can deliver real emission reduction outcomes for Australia’s iron ore exporters and shipping industry. By combining NH3’s clean ammonia production capacity, Pilbara Ports’ infrastructure, Oceania’s bunker services, and MOL’s pioneering dual-fuel fleet, we are creating an integrated end-to-end marine fuel solution that enables our customers to meet the IMO’s decarbonisation targets.”

The collaboration marks a significant step toward decarbonising bulk carrier operations in one of the world’s most critical commodity shipping corridors, aligning with the IMO’s 2050 greenhouse gas reduction targets and Australia’s clean energy transition goals.