K Line, Tokyo Gas to study LCO2 marine transportation

Japanese shipping company K Line on March 18 announced an agreement with energy company Tokyo Gas to conduct a joint study on liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) marine transportation, with the goal of advancing carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology. 

The Japanese government recognises CCS as a crucial method for attaining carbon neutrality and aims to enable the storage of 120 to 240mn tonnes/year of CO2 by 2050. The final report of the study group for a long-term CCS roadmap suggests that utilising storage potential overseas is a promising option. This involves liquefying CO2 and transporting it via marine vessels to suitable storage sites, K Line said.

Under the agreement, K Line and Tokyo Gas will conduct simulations of marine transportation of liquefied CO2 to storage sites in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, specifically for CO2 emissions originating from the Tokyo metropolitan area. The study will evaluate the economic efficiency and operational aspects of transporting liquefied CO2 by ship.

K Line said it is committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship through various initiatives aligned with its long-term environmental policy. In the field of CCS, the company plans to commence full-scale CCS transport operations next year.