INPEX Corporation announced it commenced commissioning work including the introduction of natural gas at its integrated blue H₂ and ammonia production and utilization demonstration test project in Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan on June 2. The project is the first of its kind in Japan to implement an integrated process from the production to the utilization of H₂ and ammonia, which are clean energy sources that do not emit CO₂ during usage.

The natural gas used as a raw material in this process is domestically sourced from the INPEX operated Minami-Nagaoka Gas Field in Niigata Prefecture. Additionally, the CO₂ emitted during production is injected into previously depleted gas reservoirs in the Hirai District of the Higashi Kashiwazaki Gas Field (using CCUS technology) to minimize atmospheric emissions. The H₂ produced from this project will be used to generate electricity that will be supplied to local consumers in Niigata Prefecture. Furthermore, a portion of the H₂ will be converted into ammonia and supplied to local consumers in Niigata Prefecture.

The startup of commissioning work with the introduction of natural gas follows the construction of the project’s plant facilities, which INPEX has undertaken in collaboration with relevant administrative institutions and local residents since the commencement of construction in July 2023.

Moving forward, INPEX will first conduct the commissioning of auxiliary equipment that uses natural gas as fuel and then move on to the commissioning of the H₂ production and ammonia production facilities. After completion of the commissioning work, the project’s demonstration operations are scheduled to commence in the fall of 2025, followed by the initiation of CO₂ injection into the reservoir.

The production of H₂ and ammonia as well as CO₂ recovery for commissioning are being conducted under a subsidy program adopted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) for the “Development of Fuel Ammonia Production and Utilization Technologies/Technology Development for Blue Ammonia Production.”

Additionally, the assessment and implementation of subsurface CO₂ storage are being conducted as part of a collaborative study with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), under the “Pilot Test for Evaluating CO₂ Storage Capacity Using Domestic Depleted Oil and Gas Fields, Aimed at Decarbonization in Natural Gas Utilization.”

The company announced INPEX Vision 2035 on February 13, 2025, which is centered on realizing a “Responsible Energy Transition.” As part of this vision, INPEX has set a goal to advance lower-carbon solutions based on CCS and H₂ by 2035 as one of its growth pillars.

This project represents a key initiative toward achieving this goal, and the commencement of commissioning and introduction of natural gas marks an important milestone toward its success.