ITOCHU have been promoting the developments of various technologies and projects to enhance our contribution to the realization of SDGs, while performing the our mission to the society of securing the stable supply of necessary natural resources for the industries such as steel making and power generation.

In April, 2021, the “Carbon Neutral Management Section” was established directly under the Metal & Mineral Resources Division in order to promote the carbon neutral businesses, including developments in areas such as Hydrogen & Ammonia and CCUS (Carbon dioxide Capture, Utilization and Storage), in cooperation with our customers in the fields of steel making, power generation and also with our joint venture partners in resource projects around the world, to strive for the realization of the de-carbonation of the societies.

As examples of CCUS projects, we are working closely together with Mineral Carbonation International (MCi), an Australia-based company. MCi has developed a scalable carbon platform technology that safely captures and converts industrial CO2 emissions into solid bulk materials used in new low-carbon products for construction, industrial and consumer markets and enabling the circular economy. In July 2022, we concluded an MOU with TAISEI CORPORATION and have started to verify the use of this calcium carbonate as raw materials for concrete.
Also, we are involved in the research, development and demonstration projects on liquefied CO2 ship transportation, together with the valued partners as a consortium, which contract was awarded by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). In 2023, we have formed a business partnership with CF Partners, a UK-based environmental solutions company, to support emissions credits trading, particularly in Japan and other Asian countries, as a sales counter for emissions credits trading procured and owned by CF Partners.

Furthermore, in February 2021, we started to implement joint operationalization research on a hydrogen business based on the local production for local consumption model in northern Kyushu with Nippon Coke & Engineering Company, Limited and Compagnie Maritime Belge B.V.. Featuring both the hydrogen byproduct of Nippon Coke and CMB’s hydrogen engine, this project will create both supply of and demand for hydrogen in northern Kyushu, with the goal of building an operational supply chain.

Furthermore, ITOCHU Corporation has concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with Nel ASA (headquartered in Oslo, Norway), to create a strategic partnership in the hydrogen industry and the both companies are jointly developing hydrogen business. Nel is one of the world’s largest manufacturer of electrolysers, which are essential for green hydrogen production.
Following an introduction from Nel, in February 2024, ITOCHU and a subsidiary of Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. have jointly acquired shares of Everfuel A/S, which promotes the establishment of a green hydrogen value chain. Through both its design, EPC, and operation of green hydrogen production facilities, distribution assets, operation of hydrogen stations, and via sales of hydrogen in the industrial and mobility fields, Everfuel is promoting the establishment of a green hydrogen value chain of local production and consumption.

ITOCHU aims to horizontally expand the local hydrogen production and consumption business to Europe and other regions and to enter into the business of producing hydrogen-derived products by utilizing the knowledge and expertise gained through this project, while contributing to the realization of a decarbonized society.