The first stage of cooperation will focus on exploring the opportunity to produce hydrogen and ammonia in Kazakhstan, using natural gas as feedstock and/or electrolysis (blue/green hydrogen and blue/green ammonia). Once the companies complete a feasibility study and successfully reach agreement, they will move forward with building a hydrogen/ammonia plant. They did not give a timescale for the project.

“KazMunayGas has a consistent and balanced approach to decarbonization projects as part of its adopted Low-Carbon Development Program. Cooperation with the world’s leading companies is a priority in studying promising projects in this area,” said Alik Aidarbayev, chairman of the management board at KazMunayGas.

Linde formed a joint venture with ITM Power in January 2020 to provide industrial-scale green gas project services. ITM Linde Electrolysis combines ITM Power’s modular proton exchange membrane electrolyzer technology with Linde’s engineering, procurement and construction expertise.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist