Japan Petroleum Exploration (JAPEX), Idemitsu Kosan (Idemitsu) and Hokkaido Electric Power (HEPCO) have partnered with the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) for a CCS project in Tomakomai.

This initiative is part of the fiscal year 2024's Engineering Design Work for Advanced CCS Projects public solicitation.

The trio was selected through public solicitation for the basic engineering design of the CCS value chain.

The project's scope includes assessing CO₂ storage potential at the planned site, building on a feasibility study from 2023, and aiming to launch the CCS projects by 2030.

Under the contract, the companies will be conducting specific technical studies on CO₂ separation, capture, transport and storage to inform business implementation decisions, with a goal to store 1.5–2mtpa of CO₂ by 2030. 

Idemitsu and HEPCO will handle the basic engineering design for equipment at each CO₂ emission source, while JAPEX will focus on the design for pipelines and equipment for CO₂ transport to the storage site.

Furthermore, JAPEX will undertake the basic engineering design for equipment necessary for injecting and monitoring CO₂ in deep saline formations in the sea area around Tomakomai.

Preparatory work for an exploratory well, including planning, procurement, drilling and data analysis, will also be conducted by JAPEX as part of the storage potential assessment.

The engineering design works are a step towards launching the CCS projects by 2030 and establishing future hubs and clusters for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) operations.

This contributes to the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

In May, Inpex and JERA began a joint study to explore a potential Japan-Australia CCS value chain, focusing on capturing CO₂ in Japan and storing it in Australia.