Six Japanese industrial firms have entered into an agreement with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) to capture, liquefy, and transport 3.43 million tons of CO2 annually. The companies involved—Sumitomo Corporation, Asahi Kasei, ENEOS, JFE Steel, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, and Mitsubishi Chemical—will collaborate on developing shared infrastructure for maritime carbon capture and storage (CCS) at the Mizushima Industrial Complex located in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Sumitomo Corporation will act as the lead coordinator for this consortium.
In a joint statement, the companies emphasized their commitment to establishing a collective CCS value chain in Mizushima, aiming to reduce costs and promote decarbonization across the entire industrial complex rather than on a company-by-company basis. This collaborative approach is expected to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in addressing carbon emissions.
JOGMEC highlighted the rationale behind selecting the Mizushima cluster, noting that this public initiative is designed to lower costs associated with maritime CCS by facilitating industrial clusters that allow for the shared utilization of liquefaction, storage, and shipping facilities. This initiative is part of Japan’s broader strategy to achieve commercial-scale CCS by 2030 and secure an annual storage capacity of 6 to 12 million tons, contributing to the nation’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
Design and engineering efforts for the project will continue throughout the fiscal year, laying the groundwork for maritime transport to offshore storage sites. This initiative marks a significant step forward in Japan’s efforts to combat climate change through innovative carbon management solutions.
