First low-carbon ammonia shipment from Gulf to Germany

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) handled the test cargo bound for multi-metal manufacturer Aurubis at the Container Terminal Altenwerder in Hamburg.

“We at HHLA are very proud to be part of the joint, successful development of a secure supply chain for hydrogen carriers from the United Arab Emirates to Germany,” said Torben Seebold, member of the Executive Board of HHLA.

”In order to use hydrogen and its derivatives as an energy carrier on a large scale in the future, we need a reliable, climate-neutral and efficient transport chain from the producing countries such as the United Arab Emirates to the German and European customers.”

Supply chain

In March 2022, HHLA signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to test the transport chain for hydrogen from the UAE to Germany.

The hydrogen supplied by ADNOC was shipped in the form of the hydrogen carrier ammonia. In September, the first container arrived on a Hapag-Lloyd vessel at the Port of Hamburg and was handled at HHLA Container Terminal Altenwerder.

The ammonia of the first test cargo will be used by the Hamburg-based company Aurubis for test runs for the climate-neutral conversion of gas-intensive copper wire production, thus replacing fossil fuel in the long term.

In the next months, more test deliveries of low-carbon ammonia will be shipped to other customers in Germany.

HHLA is positioning itself in the area of importing and distributing hydrogen.

Two years ago HHLA launched the project HHLA Hydrogen Network to identify the potential of hydrogen in its own business segments and beyond. 

Furthermore, HHLA is working intensively on the use of fuel cells in handling equipment and in heavy goods transport. The aim of these efforts is to contribute to the sustainable reduction of greenhouse gases and other harmful emissions.