Core Viewpoint - Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has completed its first international tender for the hydrogen price difference contract program, marking a significant shift in Japan's hydrogen strategy towards building a large-scale international supply chain [1] Group 1: Project Details - Two low-carbon ammonia import projects led by JERA and Mitsui & Co. have successfully won the tender, with plans to start importing approximately 772,000 tons of blue ammonia annually from Louisiana, USA, after 2030 [1] - The projects have secured around $6.8 billion in 15-year price difference contract support, part of Japan's total $19.2 billion hydrogen price support program [1] - The projects will primarily utilize the Blue Point facility in Louisiana, with the Japanese consortium securing over half of its production capacity [1] Group 2: Utilization and Impact - JERA's hydrogen supply will be used for co-firing power generation at its Hekinan thermal power station, while Mitsui & Co.'s hydrogen will mainly support Hokkaido Electric's co-firing project and some industrial users [1] - The tender links the actual demand from sectors such as electricity, cement, and chemicals, creating cross-sectoral synergies and establishing a commercial foundation for large-scale ammonia deployment [1] - Following this round of bidding, approximately 65% of Japan's $19.2 billion price difference contract fund remains available for allocation, indicating potential for more international projects to receive support as Japan accelerates low-carbon hydrogen procurement [1]