Southeast Asia’s first e-methanol plant planned

PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), Air Liquide, YTL PowerSeraya, Oiltanking Asia Pacific, Kenoil Marine Services, and A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a ‘Green Methanol Value Chain Collaboration’ which will explore the feasibility of establishing a green e-methanol pilot plant, with a minimum capacity of 50,000 tons per annum (TPA).

The pilot plant will be set up in Singapore pending successful conclusion of feasibility studies by the end of 2022, where it will be the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) welcomed the formation of the industry partnership and its plan to leverage on Singapore’s hub port and research ecosystems to conduct feasibility studies on the set up of a pilot plant and running of bunkering trials on green e-methanol. Green e-methanol is being considered as one of the candidates for alternate fuel to meet IMO2030/2050 goals. This project will potentially yield a substantial carbon reduction impact. As one of the world’s premier maritime bunkering hubs, Singapore will serve as an ideal location to take this important step towards exploring alternative future fuel solutions to advance the multi-fuel transition of the global shipping industry.

Earlier this week, Air Liquide and Sogestran signed an agreement to form a joint venture that will provide large-scale liquid CO2 shipping and barging solutions tailored to the needs of future carbon capture and storage projects in Europe.