Introduction
JOGMEC has selected seven major Japanese companies to conduct engineering design work for an advanced Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project in Japan. These companies include:
- ITOCHU Corporation
- Nippon Steel Corporation
- Taiheiyo Cement Corporation
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
- INPEX CORPORATION
- Taisei Corporation
- ITOCHU Oil Exploration Co., Ltd. (CIECO)
JOGMEC chose the Tohoku Region West Coast CCS initiative, jointly proposed by these companies, for the project.
CCS: Key to Decarbonization
CCS plays a crucial role in achieving Japan’s climate targets, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. The targets also include a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (compared to FY2013 levels) by FY2030. The Japanese government recognizes CCS as vital for decarbonization, especially in hard-to-abate industries. In 2023, JOGMEC issued a public call for advanced CCS projects to store domestically-emitted CO2 underground by FY2030. JOGMEC selected the Tohoku Region West Coast CCS initiative as one of the first projects to receive support.
Project Overview and Feasibility Study
The initiative plans to use ships to transport CO2 captured at Nippon Steel’s Kyushu Works Oita Area and Taiheiyo Cement’s Kawasaki Plant to storage sites. In FY2023, the companies conducted a feasibility study, focusing on CO2 separation, capture, transportation, and storage. The study identified technical issues and explored the project’s economic viability and public acceptance.
Front End Engineering Design (FEED) Work
The selected engineering design work includes Front End Engineering Design (FEED) tasks related to CO2 separation, capture, ship transportation, storage, and appraisal drilling. The companies will carry out basic engineering design work to assess the technical and economic viability of each element in the value chain. They aim to start operations by FY2030.
Collaboration for a Sustainable Future
The seven companies will continue to collaborate closely, contributing to the realization of a sustainable society by striving for the early social implementation of CCS in Japan. The selection of these prominent companies to conduct engineering design work for the advanced CCS project marks a significant milestone in Japan’s journey towards a carbon-neutral future. By harnessing the expertise and resources of these industry leaders, Japan is well-positioned to make substantial progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.make substantial progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.
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