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IHI Tests 6 MW Ammonia-Fueled Land-Based Engine
Akihiro Komuro IHI Power Systems in July began operating a demonstration plant using a 6,000kW ammonia-fueled reciprocating engine at its Ota Plant in Gunma Prefecture. The engine uses ammonia and heavy fuel oil in a dual-fuel configuration and can also operate entirely on heavy fuel oil. The company is targeting both an ammonia fuel ratio and a greenhouse gas emissions reduction of more than 90%.
The demonstration will evaluate the complete power generation system, including engine performance, fuel supply equipment, exhaust aftertreatment, leak detection and safety controls. Fuel handling and exhaust treatment are particularly important because ammonia is toxic and can produce unburned ammonia and nitrous oxide under certain combustion conditions. IHI Power Systems plans to complete the testing during fiscal 2026 and begin commercial sales in fiscal 2027.
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Investment for AutoAlliance MHEVs Approved
Akihiro Komuro Thailand’s Board of Investment in July approved a THB 7 billion, approximately USD 210 million, investment by AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT). The joint venture between Mazda Motor and Ford Motor will upgrade its existing production facilities, mainly for Mazda vehicles, in preparation for a B-segment SUV using mild hybrid electric vehicle technology.
The investment will introduce additional automation and robotic equipment in chassis welding, body assembly, painting and final assembly. The upgrades are intended to improve production efficiency and accuracy while allowing the plant to handle the additional components and manufacturing requirements of the new MHEV model.
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Hitachi Tests Remote Construction Equipment
Akihiro Komuro Hitachi Construction Machinery announced that a joint demonstration test will begin with Fukudome Kaihatsu in Tosa, Kochi Prefecture, using a ZX200A-7 20-ton class hydraulic excavator and a real-time digital twin platform. The test will be conducted in June 2026 at a river dredging project site in the Niyodo River Mochiishi District.
The platform integrates 3D terrain data, camera images, construction machinery, vehicles, and worker location information in real time, and reproduces the worksite in a virtual 3D space. The demonstration will compare remote operation under direct visual observation, remote operation using camera images, and remote operation using the real-time digital twin platform, in order to verify its effect on safety and productivity.
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Thai EV Adoption Pressures Production
Akihiro Komuro Ten Thai automotive and auto parts associations have warned that EV adoption is putting pressure on domestic production and that the country’s automotive industry could face a crisis. According to the industry groups, Thai manufacturers are struggling to compete with low-cost, zero-tariff EV imports from China, while local parts suppliers are seeing orders decline.
The associations, which represent more than 1,500 member companies, said in a letter to the government that the industry could face a major shock in 2027, when the current incentive scheme designed to support EV production is scheduled to end. They called on the government to review the EV policy before the incentives expire and to introduce urgent measures to support the industry.
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Komatsu Reports Record 2025 Sales but Profits Decline
Akihiro Komuro Komatsu announced that its revenue reached a record high for fiscal 2025 due to the effects of a weaker yen and improved pricing. However, the company explained that profits fell below the previous year’s level due to declining demand for construction machinery in North America and rising costs.
In North America, the company reported that demand for residential construction remained sluggish and that machinery purchases by rental companies had also declined. It also noted that the Asian market remained generally weak.
Conversely, demand for mining equipment remained high, with the resources sector underpinning its performance. It also stated that its parts and services business had performed steadily.
Furthermore, although Komatsu acknowledged that ‘the business environment remains uncertain’, the company expressed the view that ‘infrastructure investment and mining demand will remain robust’.
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Yanmar To Build Plant for Marine Hydrogen Engines
Akihiro Komuro Yanmar Power Solutions is advancing the development of engines that are compatible with next-generation fuels. In anticipation of future increased production volumes of marine and land-based engines, the company has acquired a site in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture.
The new plant will be used to conduct test runs of marine hydrogen engines and to reorganize and strengthen production capabilities, including those of existing plants. The new plant is scheduled to begin operations about March 2029.
In the marine industry, there are ongoing efforts to develop and commercialize decarbonization technologies with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Leveraging its expertise in engine development and production, Yanmar Power Solutions plans to develop powertrains compatible with next-generation fuels, including hydrogen, methanol and ammonia, and establish production systems to support them.
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Power Shortages Boost Reliance on Generators
Akihiro Komuro Amid rising demand during the dry season and the risk of power plant outages, concerns are mounting in the Philippines over tight electricity supplies. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has noted that prices on the Wholesale Electricity Supply Market (WESM) could increase by approximately 4 pesos per kWh.
This increase is due to a combination of factors, including high temperatures, the shutdown of some power plants, and rising fuel costs.
These conditions are also causing instability in the power supply at the regional level. For instance, Boracay’s supply capacity has not kept pace with the surge in electricity demand fueled by the tourism recovery, prompting the use of generators in some areas. Although transmission operators aim to avoid power outages through future infrastructure improvements, reliance on backup power sources continues to some extent.
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