CMB.TECH invests in China’s green ammonia supply chain, securing fuel, infrastructure, and partnerships to accelerate zero-emission ammonia-powered shipping.
CMB.TECH NV has unveiled a major strategic move to strengthen its access to low-carbon marine fuels by investing directly in China’s rapidly developing green ammonia supply chain. Through a combination of long-term supply agreements and equity participation, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of ammonia-based maritime decarbonisation, while helping accelerate the build-out of critical production, storage, and logistics infrastructure in China.
As part of this initiative, CMB.TECH NV has signed a green ammonia off-take agreement with CEEC Hydrogen Energy for output from the CEEC Songyuan project located in Jilin Province. Under the first development phase of this project, around 158,000 tonnes of renewable ammonia are expected to be produced annually. Construction activities were finalised at the end of September 2025, with full commercial operations scheduled to begin in January 2026.
The Songyuan facility is largely powered by off-grid renewable energy sources, complemented by battery systems and hydrogen buffer storage to ensure operational stability and continuity. To guarantee compliance with international sustainability standards, CEEC appointed Bureau Veritas to conduct certification audits. As a result, the project successfully achieved ISCC EU RFNBO certification on 2 December 2025, confirming that the ammonia produced meets stringent European requirements for renewable fuels of non-biological origin.
In addition to securing long-term supply, CMB.TECH is also investing upstream and downstream by acquiring a minority stake in Jiangsu Andefu Energy Technology Co., Ltd., one of China’s largest ammonia supply chain operators. This equity investment establishes an industrial partnership aimed at supporting maritime decarbonisation while accelerating the development of a scalable green ammonia distribution network.
A key component of Andefu’s infrastructure expansion is being delivered by its subsidiary, Jiangsu Andefu Storage Co., Ltd., which is currently constructing a 49,000 cubic-metre low-temperature ammonia storage tank in Nanjing. This facility will play a crucial role as a regional hub for ammonia distribution and future marine fuel supply. Commissioning of the tank is planned for the first quarter of 2026.
Looking further ahead, Andefu, in cooperation with CEEC, plans to bring a large-scale ammonia storage terminal into operation in Panjin during the second half of 2027. This terminal is expected to significantly enhance China’s ability to manage, transport, and supply green ammonia at scale, supporting both domestic demand and international shipping needs. In parallel, Andefu is advancing ship-to-ship (STS) ammonia bunkering solutions, targeting commercial deployment in 2026. These capabilities are intended to serve the emerging global fleet of ammonia-fuelled vessels, in close collaboration with CMB.TECH.
On the vessel side, CMB.TECH is preparing for a major fleet transition. The company is scheduled to receive 11 ammonia-powered ships in 2026, including ten 210,000-dwt Newcastlemax bulk carriers under construction at Qingdao Beihai Shipyard and one 1,400-TEU container vessel being built by China Merchants Industry Weihai. These ships will be equipped with dual-fuel diesel-ammonia main engines and onboard ammonia fuel storage, allowing them to operate in a flexible dual-fuel configuration for propulsion and auxiliary power.
CMB.TECH views green ammonia as one of the most promising pathways for shipping decarbonisation. When used in combustion engines, ammonia produces no carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, as renewable energy costs continue to decline, green ammonia is expected to become increasingly cost-competitive with conventional marine fuels. Alongside sourcing fuel globally, the company also maintains an ambition to develop its own green ammonia production capacity in Namibia.
Commenting on the announcement, Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH, described the investment as a major milestone in the company’s decarbonisation journey, underlining that 2026 will be a pivotal year for proving the viability of zero-emission, ammonia-powered maritime transport.
