Mitsui & Co has joined a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project at the Arthit gas field in the Gulf of Thailand, operated by Thailand’s PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP), through its wholly owned subsidiary, Mitsui Energy Development Co. (MOECO). MOECO participates in the project via its subsidiary MOECO Thailand Co., Ltd., which holds a 4.7619% share in the CCS project. This project, the first CCS initiative in Thailand, aims to begin operations in 2028.
The Arthit gas field supplies approximately 8% of Thailand’s domestic natural gas demand, and it is expected to store up to 1 million tons of CO2 annually.
MOECO holds a 51.42% stake in its subsidiary MOECO Thailand Co., Ltd., which has held a 4% share in the Arthit gas field since 1998. In 2022, Mitsui & Co. and MOECO were selected for a support program by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry titled ‘FY2022 Infrastructure Development Survey Project for Bilateral Credit Acquisition (JCM Feasibility Study and CEFIA Domestic Secretariat Operations),’ and have since conducted related studies. The outcomes of these studies have now led to a decision.
This CCS project represents an initiative in Mitsui & Co.’s efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Furthermore, the project demonstrates high feasibility as a model for low-carbon energy businesses, as it achieves CCS without impacting existing natural gas production.