NH3 Clean Energy Limited has entered into a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Pilbara Ports Authority and Oceania Marine Energy to establish a low-emissions ammonia bunkering operation at the Port of Dampier by 2030.
The initiative will support iron ore carriers along the Pilbara-to-Asia maritime corridor, positioning Western Australia as a global leader in maritime decarbonization. The JDA sets a framework for cooperation, assigning NH3 as the ammonia supplier via its WAH2 Project, Pilbara Ports as the port operator and regulator, and Oceania as the operator of bunker vessels delivering ammonia via ship-to-ship transfers from the Dampier Bulk Liquids Berth to anchorage.
The agreement outlines an integrated scope of work and development timetable to confirm technical feasibility and secure key environmental and regulatory approvals. This process aims to enable final investment decisions for the WAH2 Project, bunker vessels, and related port infrastructure by the end of 2026. NH3’s WAH2 Project, which will supply low-emissions ammonia to decarbonizing economies like Japan and South Korea, is expected to commence production in late 2029.
Leaders from all three organizations emphasized the strategic significance of the project. NH3 Chairman Charles Whitfield highlighted the opportunity for WA to become a global clean fuel leader, while Pilbara Ports CEO Sam McSkimming noted the region’s scale and infrastructure as ideal for pioneering clean maritime fuel. Oceania Managing Director Nick Bentley called the JDA a major milestone in delivering world-class bunkering operations. The collaboration builds on earlier partnerships and reflects growing momentum toward cleaner shipping solutions across the Asia-Pacific region.
