Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has joined a pioneering effort to develop an ammonia bunkering operation in Australia’s Pilbara, aiming to establish a green shipping corridor between the iron ore region and Asia. MOL becomes the first shipping company in the project, announced in June, to plan bunkering for Capesize bulkers transporting iron ore and to support an ammonia export business.
MOL will collaborate with NH3 Clean Energy, responsible for supplying blue ammonia, and Oceania Marine Energy, which will manage the bunkering operations. The Pilbara Ports Authority will oversee the project at the Port of Dampier, including issuing bunkering licenses. The initiative aims to commence operations at Dampier and Port Hedland by 2030.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the Pilbara region, MOL, which has already committed to ammonia dual-fuel vessels with CMB.Tech, will charter and operate three Capesize bulkers built by China State Shipbuilding Corp.’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Company. The vessels feature a 72-bore ammonia-fueled engine developed with WinGD. MOL will provide the operator’s perspective to advance the ammonia bunkering initiative.
Pilbara Ports’ CEO Sam McSkimming said, “With approximately 4,000 vessel visits and more than 1,000 distinct bulk carriers annually, the Pilbara is a natural beachhead to kick-start the clean fuel transition. The green iron corridor between the Pilbara and East Asia has the scale, stable demand, port infrastructure, and risk management experience to support the significant investment maritime decarbonization requires.”
NH3 Clean Energy is developing its WAH2 project in neighboring Maitland, utilizing existing gas and pipeline infrastructure alongside carbon capture technology for clean ammonia production. The project anticipates an initial bunkering demand of 300,000 TPA, representing roughly half of Phase 1 production, with the remainder earmarked for heavy industry and power generation. Pre-FEED studies are ongoing, with the final investment decision expected by the end of 2026.
