Regional CCS: JERA, INPEX in joint study aimed at building an Australia–Japan Carbon CCS value chain

By Romel S. Gurky

Japanese firms JERA Co., Inc.  and INPEX CORPORATION recently signed an agreement to carry out a preliminary joint study concerning the feasibility of separating and capturing CO2 emitted by JERA in Japan and transporting it to Australia for storage.

JERA said in a statement released last week that Under the agreement, JERA and INPEX will jointly examine project feasibility across the entire value chain, from the separation and capture of CO2 emitted by JERA in Japan to its transportation between the two countries—including transport methods and shipping/receiving conditions—and its underground storage in Australia.

Read also: Regional CCS: JERA, Petronas sign CCS value chain JSA

In working to achieve carbon neutrality, carbon capture and storage (CCS) techniques that store CO2 underground are indispensable for industries in which it is difficult to reduce CO2 emissions. With many governments providing active support, CCS projects are being planned in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.

Australia is bolstering its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and moving forward to foster a business environment that encourages CCS projects that take advantage of its abundance of sites suitable for underground CO2 storage and facilitates the receipt of CO2 from outside the country.

INPEX has expertise in technologies and business development concerning CCS, which is considered as an effective means of reducing CO2 emissions from multiple projects in Australia including the Ichthys LNG Project which is operated by INPEX. JERA believes that this joint study with INPEX will contribute to building a global CCS value chain for the cross-border transportation and storage of CO2 and, through the use of CCS, to advancing the transition to a decarbonized society, JERA said.

Editing by Alexander Ginting