JBIC Hosts Joint Seminar with Ministry of the Environment at COP28: “What JBIC can do toward Energy Transition / Creating a Hydrogen Supply Chain: Prospects and Challenges of Hydrogen Transport”

On December 4, 2023, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), jointly with the Ministry of the Environment, held a seminar titled “What JBIC can do toward Energy Transition / Creating a Hydrogen Supply Chain: Prospects and Challenges of Hydrogen Transport” at the Japan Pavilion of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

At the seminar, Mr. KIKUCHI Yo, Managing Executive Officer, Global Head of Corporate Planning Group made a presentation under the theme of “What JBIC Can Do Toward Energy Transition.” There, he stressed three points: JBIC, through green finance and engagement, will (1) lead the energy transition by taking advantage of its unique position as a policy-based financial institution that bridges between public and private sectors, (2) act as a navigator in the face of uncertainty during the transition, and (3) continue to stand by developing and emerging countries as a partner.

The presentation was followed by a panel discussion titled “Creating a Hydrogen Supply Chain: Prospects and Challenges of Hydrogen Transport,” moderated by Mr. TOYODA Kohei, Director General of JBIC‘s Energy Transformation Strategy Office. Various issues were discussed in the session, including advantages of hydrogen carriers, a business segment where Japan is leading, and challenges for their commercialization as well as the importance of international public-private cooperation for establishing a hydrogen supply chain.

The panelists shared their expertise in each area with examples. Dr. OKADA Yoshimi, Fellow, Frontier Business Division, Chiyoda Corporation, talked about hydrogen transportation by using liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) technologies and Mr. HASEGAWA Taku, Manager, Section 2, Business Development Department, Project Group, Hydrogen Strategy Division, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., explained transportation by liquefied hydrogen carriers. The theme introduced by Mr. Vipul Tuli, Chairman, South Asia and CEO, Hydrogen Business & Middle East, Sembcorp Industries Ltd., was the production and utilization of green hydrogen and ammonia. Then, Mr. KOHARA Mitsuhiro, General Manager, International Certification & Standards Harmonization, Planning Department, The Japan Gas Association, elaborated the utilization of e-methane, which is produced from hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide. Another panelist was Mr. IKUSHIMA Wataru, Senior Operating Officer, Power Business Division and General Manager, New Energy Business Development Department, Marubeni Corporation, who described the production of green and blue hydrogen and ammonia. The panel also reached an agreement that it is desirable to have multiple hydrogen carriers to create a hydrogen society.

As Japan's policy-based financial institution, JBIC will continue to proactively provide valuable information that will help and support Japanese companies in their quest for overseas business expansion, while also assisting them with their efforts to promote sustainability in such areas as decarbonization and innovation.