Singapore Partners with ExxonMobil and Shell for Cross-Border CCS Project

The Singapore government is teaming up with a consortium led by ExxonMobil and Shell to explore the feasibility of a cross-border carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Tan See Leng, announced the ambitious plan to start the project by 2030.

Carbon Capture and Storage Overview

CCS is a method that involves capturing, transporting, and storing carbon dioxide to prevent its release into the atmosphere. Business Times noted that the partnership aims to assess the technical and economic viability of consolidating carbon dioxide emissions in Singapore and identifying suitable CO2 storage locations with regional collaborators.

Collaboration with Indonesia and Emission Reduction Goals

Reuters reported that Singapore and Indonesia have recently signed a Letter of Intent to establish a workgroup focusing on CCS collaboration. The joint effort aims to plan and execute a CCS project capable of capturing and securely storing a minimum of 2.5 million tons of CO2 annually.

The consortium, known as S Hub, will lead in developing the project. They will closely collaborate with the government to evaluate the feasibility of a cross-border initiative from Singapore, engaging with potential service providers to integrate their solutions into the CCS value chain.

Government Engagement and Decarbonisation

Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) will liaise with local emitters to explore their involvement in the project. CCS is one of the key decarbonization strategies being pursued by Singapore, alongside investments in low-carbon energy alternatives.

As part of the Low-Carbon Energy Research Programme, S$55 million will support 16 projects to advance decarbonization efforts. This includes initiatives such as the Directed Hydrogen Programme (DHP) and the Emerging Technology Grant Call (ETGC), focusing on hydrogen-related technologies and advanced catalysts.

The DHP projects will concentrate on hydrogen and ammonia safety standards, ammonia utilization, and hydrogen distribution. The successful outcomes of these projects could accelerate the technical and commercial feasibility of hydrogen-related technologies.

Research and Innovation in Low-Carbon Energy

The ETGC projects will explore research avenues in low-concentration carbon capture, advanced ammonia processing catalysts, and hydrogen pipeline coatings. These innovations are poised to broaden Singapore's technological solutions for a sustainable energy future.

Photo: ExxonMobil Newsroom