Ammonia ambitions to help drive gas demand

The gas-hungry sector is set for rapid growth, and oil majors and some of the world’s largest LNG firms are investing in ammonia production and export facilities, though much depends on regulatory support

The global ammonia trade is poised for significant expansion in the coming years, likely bolstering demand for natural gas, the main feedstock for conventional production. The existing ammonia market is dominated by requirements for fertilisers, demand for which is projected to increase alongside population growth. But new applications for ammonia as a low-carbon energy source, hydrogen carrier and alternative marine fuel could also spur significant additional demand, potentially further boosting gas consumption too. c.36m Btu – Gas requirements for 1t of ammonia for a typical plant Ammonia is a large, gas-intensive industry, which the IEA says uses around 170bcm/yr, or roughly 20% o