Approval Obtained for 'Base Development Support System' for Ammonia Supply Hub Centered in the Tomakomai Region, Hokkaido
The development of a low-carbon ammonia supply hub in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, has been certified under the government's 'Base Development Support System'.
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- 📰 Published: March 29, 2026 at 00:39
Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc.
Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
IHI Corporation
Tomakomai Futo Co., Ltd.
Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Sapporo; President: Susumu Saito), Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Kenichi Hori; hereinafter "Mitsui & Co."), IHI Corporation (Head Office: Koto-ku, Tokyo; President: Hiroshi Ide), and Tomakomai Futo Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Tomakomai, Hokkaido; President: Takao Kaizu) announced today that they have received certification*1 from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for their application under the "Base Development Support System" based on the Hydrogen Society Promotion Act.
The Base Development Support System is a program through which the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry provides support for infrastructure development necessary for the transportation or storage of low-carbon hydrogen and other substances, with the aim of promoting the supply and use of such substances at an early stage.
Based on the certified business plan, the four companies aim to build a hub capable of supplying low-carbon ammonia in the Tomakomai region of Hokkaido by the end of fiscal year 2030, as part of a large-scale supply chain project for low-carbon ammonia that aims for the first commercial operation in Japan. Low-carbon ammonia is ammonia produced with significantly lower CO2 emissions compared to conventional manufacturing processes. It is expected to not only decarbonize the value chain for traditional uses such as fertilizers and chemical products but also serve as a clean fuel that emits no CO2 during combustion.
Under this plan, the 280,000 tons of low-carbon ammonia*2 per year procured by Mitsui & Co.—which was certified on December 19, 2025, under the "Support System Focusing on Price Differentials" based on the Hydrogen Society Promotion Act—will be utilized by low-carbon hydrogen users as fuel or raw material, aiming to reduce environmental impact.
In Hokkaido, the establishment of next-generation semiconductor factories and large-scale data centers is progressing, and energy demand within the prefecture is expected to increase significantly in the future. In addition to the introduction of renewable energy such as offshore wind power, there is high potential demand for ammonia as a clean fuel. In particular, Tomakomai is a key logistics hub in Hokkaido designated as an International Hub Port. With shipping routes accessible to both the Sea of Japan and Pacific Ocean sides, it is a promising location that can supply not only local users but also those inside and outside the prefecture by utilizing coastal vessels. By building a large-scale low-carbon ammonia supply chain centered in Tomakomai, we will proceed with our considerations while seeking the understanding of the local community, aiming to contribute to the achievement of carbon neutrality for all of Japan.
*1 Refer to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry website dated March 27, 2026.
*2 Acquisition of certification for the Japanese "Price Difference Support System" regarding the US low-carbon ammonia business (Mitsui & Co.)
https://www.mitsui.com/jp/ja/topics/2025/1252552_14877.html
[Conceptual image of the ammonia supply hub in the Tomakomai region]