MOL Acquires AiP for Design of Large-scale Liquefied CO2 Carrier through Research and Development Project from NEDO

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) today announced that it acquired Approval in Principle (AiP) (Note 1) for design of a large-scale liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2) carrier from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK).

Tokyo - August 23, 2022

In June 2021, MOL launched research and development (R&D) on the adoption of a large-scale liquefied CO2 carrier in response to a call for proposals by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to complete the conceptual design, under a project entrusted by NEDO to Japan CCS Co., Ltd. (JCCS: President: Toshiaki Nakajima; Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo). The vessel design is one element of NEDO's "CCUS R&D and Demonstration Related Project/Large-scale CCUS Demonstration Project in Tomakomai/Demonstration Project on CO2 Transportation."


CG rendering of large-scale CO2 carrier. Image by MOL.

The large-scale liquefied CO2 carrier is intended as a practical solution to the need for long-distance transport of CO2 on a scale of 1 million tons a year, based on NEDO's vision to implement CCUS technology.

"MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.1" (Note 2) sets the following goal: "With concerted effort throughout the Group, achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050," and establishes five strategies to achieve that target.

The company will further accelerate its initiative on liquefied CO2 transport through R&D in this demonstration project, contributing to the realization of a low- and de-carbonized society.


Fig. Conceptual diagram of the demonstration project (source: NEDO)


Image by MOL

Outline of NEDO
Company name: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
Established: 2003
Chairman: Hiroaki Ishizuka
Location: (Headquarters) Kawasaki City, Kanagawa
Business: Operations relating to technology development management (national projects and practical application promotion activities)

Outline of JCCS
Company name: Japan CCS Co., Ltd. (JCCS)
Established: 2008
Representative: Toshiaki Nakajima
Location: (Headquarters) Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (Tomakomai CCS demonstration site) Tomakomai-shi, Hokkaido
Business: Research, R&D, feasibility research, demonstration test of CO2 separation/capture, use, transport, and underground storage technology

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. press release