Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (‘K’ Line Group), one of the world’s largest shipping groups based in Japan, have signed an agreement to cooperate on research and pilot projects to decarbonize bulk cargo shipping.
Decarbonization solutions suitable for EGA’s bulk cargo shipping routes in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean include kite systems, alternative fuels and CO2 capture technologies. All of these technologies today have technical and practical challenges to widespread adoption that remain to be overcome, ranging from technology immaturity to lack of support infrastructure.
K Line Group will lead research into decarbonization opportunities, and EGA will target pilot projects on its K Line shipping routes. The Group transports some five million tons of EGA’s bauxite per annum from the Republic of Guinea to the UAE and some 1.5 million tons of alumina each year from Australia to the UAE, under long-term Contracts of Affreightment.
Abdulnasser bin Kalban CEO – EGA
“Economy-wide decarbonization will require cooperation between industries, and we are pleased to work with K Line Group on this important global challenge. Our long-term relationship with K Line Group provides an ideal platform to develop and test ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. For EGA, our goal is to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions not just from our own operations but also from activities in our supply chain. Improving the fuel efficiency of shipping could also reduce our shipping costs.”
The global shipping industry is responsible for almost 3 percent of world greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Shipping accounts for a proportion of the emissions generated in EGA’s supply chain, known as scope 3 emissions.
Mr. Yukikazu Myochin, President & CEO of K Line, said that “Decarbonization is an essential challenge for the shipping industry to meet the expectations of our customers and global society. This cooperation with EGA, which has been one of our most important customers for decades, will enable us to jointly make progress towards net zero for both our companies. It will also enable us to pioneer new approaches for the shipping industry as a whole.”
