BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Japanese ITOCHU Corp
and partners signed a memorandum of understanding to study the
commercialization of liquefied bio‑based carbon dioxide (CO₂)
recovered from waste incineration, as companies seek new industrial
sources of CO₂ amid supply instability in Japan, Trend reports.
The agreement with Saga City, Nippon Ekitan Corp and Itochu
Industrial Gases Co Ltd will evaluate the technology, logistics and
market potential for capturing, liquefying and selling CO₂
recovered at the Saga City Clean Center under a joint business
model.
Japan faces challenges in securing stable supplies of industrial
CO₂ used in carbonated beverages, food processing, dry ice and
other applications, as domestic oil refining and chemical plant
capacities are restructured. Waste‑to‑energy facilities, which emit
a steady flow of CO₂, are increasingly seen as a potential local
source for carbon reuse.
The Saga City Clean Center, which began operations in 2016, is
Japan’s first facility dedicated to separating and recovering CO₂
from municipal waste incinerator flue gas. It has been used to
support agricultural projects and other uses, and in 2024 became
the first waste incineration plant in the world to receive ISCC
PLUS certification — an international sustainability certification
recognising the environmental value of the CO₂ it captures.
Under the memorandum, parties will study technical requirements
for liquefaction and storage equipment, quality and safety
standards, regulatory compliance, transports logistics and sales
strategies, with a view to designing a business model for
long‑distance transport and supply of liquefied CO₂.
The initiative aligns with ITOCHU’s broader strategy to expand
its business domains and support carbon recycling models rooted in
local communities. Under its management policy, “The Brand‑New
Deal: Profit opportunities are shifting downstream,” the company
aims to meet diverse societal needs while helping strengthen
domestic supply chains for industrial CO₂.
