Under a new memorandum of understanding (MOU), the pair will look to integrate an Air Liquide-developed carbon capture-equipped autothermal reforming (ATR) unit with Aster’s refining and petrochemical infrastructure.

Both firms said the work would support Singapore’s low-carbon hydrogen goals and its Net Zero by 2050 strategy.

According to Air Liquide, its ATR process can enable a carbon capture rate of up to 99%.

The industrial gas firm’s Singapore CEO, Tina Loke, said the company would use its experience of over 30 ATR installations worldwide to develop the plans.

Aster operates refining and petrochemical facilities on Bukom and Jurong Island, where it can produce 237,000 barrels of oil per day and hosts a 1.1 million tonne per year ethylene cracker.

Grey hydrogen is used to remove impurities and upgrade fuels in refineries and to serve as a key feedstock for major chemicals like ammonia and methanol.

However, the unabated fossil-based molecule is also a huge contributor of carbon dioxide emissions from industrial footprints.

“We seek to harness advanced ATR technology to supply low-carbon hydrogen that strengthens the efficiency and reliability of our integrated infrastructure,” said Aster Group CEO Erwin Ciputra.

Singapore has made low-carbon hydrogen a core element of its energy transition under its National Hydrogen Strategy, published in 2022. The plan estimates hydrogen could meet up to 50% of Singapore’s electricity demand by 2050, depending on technology development and global supply availability.