Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced that it will be contracted by West Japan Carbon dioxide Storage Survey Co., Ltd., ENEOS Corporation, Electric Power Development Co., Ltd., and JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corporation to study the use of ships to transport liquefied CO2 as part of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) development project off western Kyushu (see the chart below). The research is commissioned by the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) for fiscal year (FY) 2024 as the "Engineering Design Work for Advanced CCS Projects."

Outline of CCS Project Plan

Company	West Japan Carbon dioxide Storage Survey Co., Ltd., ENEOS, J-Power, JX
Emission sources	ENEOS refineries and J-Power thermal power plants in Seto Inland and Kyushu regions
Mode of transport	Vessels and pipelines
Potential storage site	Off the western coast of Kyushu (marine saline aquifers)
Storage volume	About 1.7 million tons/year

Japan has set a carbon neutrality goal by 2050, and its "GX Promotion Strategy" sets out a policy to develop a business environment for the start of CCS projects by 2030. As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and JOGMEC are launching projects with the potential for large-scale operations as "Advanced CCS projects." They are providing integrated support for the entire value chain, from CO2 separation, capture, transport, to storage.

During FY2024, MOL will conduct the subsequent phases of the feasibility study, including the study of vessels to be used for CO2 transport and the identification of major risks and issues in liquefied CO2 transport, with the aim of starting the practical implementation of a domestic CCS value chain by FY2030.