Shell’s Blue Horizon Project at Duqm to Produce 3,000 Tons/Day of Blue Ammonia
Engineering group KBR’s blue ammonia technology has been picked by Shell for its Blue Horizon low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia project in Duqm, Oman.
Houston-headquartered KBR, a member of the Breakbulk Global Shipper Network, said the facility would deploy its ammonia synthesis technology to produce cost-competitive and low-carbon intensity ammonia.
The company would also provide licensed proprietary engineering design for the 3,000 metric tons per day production plant utilizing hydrogen feedstock produced by Shell’s blue hydrogen technology.
Blue ammonia is made from hydrogen derived from natural gas feedstock, with the CO2 by-product captured and stored. Green hydrogen, on the other hand, is produced from hydrogen that comes from water electrolysis powered by renewable energy.
KBR has licensed, engineered or built more than 250 ammonia plants worldwide since 1943.
“We are excited to work with Shell on this breakthrough project in Oman and contribute towards achieving Oman's Vision 2040 targets,” said Jay Ibrahim, president of KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions. “Our blue ammonia technology allows our clients to implement their energy transition projects with a cost-competitive solution at the lowest carbon intensity.”
In related news, KBR has been awarded an advisory consulting contract for Kuwait Oil Company’s renewables and hydrogen masterplan project. The project is targeting 17 GW of renewables and 25 GW of green hydrogen capacity by 2050.
The work is expected to be carried out over the next 18 months, with KBR developing market analysis, techno-commercial feasibility studies and a training program for Kuwaiti nationals.
Kuwait’s over-reliance on crude has triggered efforts to diversify its industrial base. In line with other nations in the Middle East, the Gulf state has launched its own long-term initiative to pivot the economy away from oil and gas towards more sustainable sectors.
Vision 2035, which will usher in a “New Kuwait,” is seeking to transform the country into a regional financial and trade hub by boosting the role of the private sector and luring more investment towards non-oil expansion.
Breakbulk movers will be buoyed by the government’s target of sourcing 15 percent of electricity generation from renewables by the end of the decade, with plans in place to rapidly expand capacity through a series of utility-scale wind, solar and hydrogen facilities.
Breakbulk Middle East 2025 is taking place on 10-11 February at the Dubai World Trade Center.
