- Pilbara Clean Fuels Pty Ltd is advancing plans for a groundbreaking mid-scale LNG plant at Port Hedland, Australia.
- This facility aims to cater to the rising demand for cleaner marine fuel, specifically targeting iron ore carriers shuttling between the Pilbara and Asia.
- Anticipated studies suggest a burgeoning global shift towards LNG as a marine fuel, with Port Hedland alone projecting potential demand of 1.0 Mtpa by 2030, driving the need for increased supply capacity.
Key feature
A key feature of the project is an electrified plant with outsourced power supplied predominantly from renewable sources. The design intent is to significantly reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions compared to conventional LNG plants.
The LNG re-fueling concept is based on ship-to-ship bunkering of vessels while at anchor off Port Hedland. Oceania Marine Energy Pty Ltd is developing a LNG marine fuel bunkering service capability based on the charter, ship management and operation of purpose-designed LNG bunker vessels.
Newcastlemax
RINA is developing a concept for a new 209,000 DWT ‘Newcastlemax’ design with an LNG marine fuel system involving pre-combustion carbon removal and hydrogen production, with the objective of meeting and exceeding IMO 2050 emissions reduction marine vessel Carbon Intensity Index (‘CII’) objectives.
LNG Bunkering
The Pilbara to Asia dry-bulk trade route is suited for adoption of the pre-combustion carbon removal and hydrogen production onboard concept due to proposed availability of low carbon intensity LNG bunkering at Port Hedland.
Recognizing the complementary aspects of their respective project interests and business objectives, PCF, Oceania and RINA have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Under the terms of the MoU, PCF, Oceania and RINA have agreed to collaborate to develop an ‘end-to-end’ low-carbon profile LNG production and marine vessel bunkering capability concept for the port of Port Hedland.
Words Of Oceania leaders
Oceania Managing Director, Nick Bentley commented:
“The Oceania and PCF collaboration is aimed at providing a supply capability for low-carbon footprint LNG, for the first time available on-route to the Australia – Asia iron ore shipping fleets. RINA adds to that with new ship and fuel system design enabling LNG to be viewed as a potential future zero-emissions marine fuel.”
RINA Marine Consulting Executive Vice President, Massimo Volta commented:
“The combined knowledge and expertise of PCF, Oceania and RINA will allow a comprehensive approach to the project, rather than to the single phases, that will actually maximize the emissions reduction effort. The shipping industry is living a time of uncertainty that still requires immediate investments. Port Hedland is the world’s biggest iron ore export point and providing such system with a solution that allows a more flexible transition while achieving IMO 2050 targets with an existing fuel will be a massive contribution to the path to West Australia green corridor.”
Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Safety4Sea
