Yara Clean Ammonia (Yara), a Yara International ASA company in the fertilizer and chemical industry, and VNG, a Leipzig-based gas company, plan a close collaboration in the field of clean ammonia that will actively support the ambitious implementation plans outlined in the German Hydrogen Strategy.

Ulf Heitmüller, CEO of VNG and Magnus Ankarstrand, President of Yara Clean Ammonia, signed an official cooperation agreement at the Yara plant in Poppendorf, near Rostock. It is a first step towards a future supply agreement between both parties and can eventually enable further projects to facilitate clean ammonia as a hydrogen and energy carrier into the German market, with Rostock as point of import. Clean ammonia* can be supplied from YARA to VNG. The hydrogen and ammonia infrastructure in the German hanseatic city Rostock will be used and could be further developed.

Ammonia is recognized as the most convenient hydrogen carrier for long distance transport and storage, both because of its hydrogen density but also because the distribution infrastructure is in place. This is the core competence and business of YARA being one of the largest ammonia producers- and distributors in the world through its fertilizer business, and the number one fertilizer and ammonia handler and developer of decarbonized ammonia solutions.

VNG is a strong group of companies active in the gas and gas infrastructure sector aiming at decarbonizing their business.

The collaboration between YARA and VNG would significantly promote and facilitate the ongoing work related to “Green Port Rostock” expanding capacity, initiating new industry activities connected to clean ammonia and hydrogen and thus, contributing to the development of the city and port of Rostock, the surrounding region, and the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

“We are happy about the commitment with YARA to explore opportunities for a cooperation in clean ammonia. This is a great example for the reinforcing Norwegian-German partnership in the energy sector. Our common objective is to empower the decarbonization in East Germany, especially in the industrial sector”, stated Ulf Heitmüller, CEO of VNG.

“The German Energiewende and the Hydrogen Strategy makes Germany a CenterPoint for development and implementation of the low carbon hydrogen and ammonia value chains. Yara is already well positioned to take part in this development with our import terminals in Rostock and Brunsbüttel, and we see the collaboration with VNG as a very important step to help developing the low carbon hydrogen value chains in Germany”, said Magnus Ankarstrand, President of Yara Clean Ammonia, Norway.