KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd (MOL) and Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI) have attained four Approvals-in-Principle (AiPs) for their jointly developed liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) carriers and LCO2 floating storage and offloading unit (FSO).
The approvals were awarded by the classification societies Det Norsk Veritas AS (DNV) and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
In a statement today, Petronas said the AiPs indicated that the classification societies have reviewed and approved the basic design of the LCO2 carriers as well as the FSO, as they fulfil the technical requirements and safety criteria.
Petronas executive vice president and chief executive officer of upstream Datuk Adif Zulkifli said the LCO2 carriers for CO2 transportation play a key role in the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) value chain.
"The attainment of the AiPs further strengthens Petronas’ commitment in providing decarbonisation solutions, aligned with our aspiration to establish Malaysia as a leading CCS hub in the region,” he commented.
MOL senior managing executive officer Nobuo Shiotsu said the development on a large scale is an essential step for the CCS value chain within the Asia-Pacific and Oceania region.
Through the newly acquired AiP, MOL would further accelerate this initiative on the CO2 transport business as part of its effort to reduce society's overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Meanwhile, SDARI vice president Zhou Zhiyong said the company is delighted to join this innovative project with Petronas and MOL and the concepts will be essential to LCO2 transportation and operation, and would boost CCS development in the maritime industry.
Petronas further shared that the two AiPs from DNV are for a short-haul LCO2 carrier with the capacity of 14,000 cubic meter (m3) and a long-haul LCO2 carrier with the capacity of 87,000 m3.
The other two AiPs from ABS are for an 87,000-m3 LCO2 carrier with Dynamic Positioning System, and a 96,000-m3 LCO2 FSO for intermediate storage, it said.
"The 14,000-m3 LCO2 carrier is presently the world’s largest design with AiP for medium temperature and medium pressure conditions, while the 87,000-m3 LCO2 carrier and 96,000-m3 LCO2 FSO are presently the world’s largest designs with AiP for low temperature and low temperature conditions.
"The large capacities enable a more competitive unit rate for LCO2 marine transportation,” it explained.
Petronas added that the collaborations with industry partners is part of its deliberate steps to accelerate the delivery of effective solutions with lower carbon footprints, in line with its aspiration to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. - Bernama
