Hong Kong-based marine fuel oil supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Friday (27 June) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. 

This landmark agreement, formalised during the Mainland-Hong Kong Green Energy Matchmaking Event on 25 June, marked a significant step toward establishing Hong Kong as a global hub for green marine fuel bunkering and trading.

The MOU underscores CPN’s and the HKSAR Government’s shared commitment to advancing a sustainable maritime industry through the development and adoption of green marine fuels. 

Aligned with the HKSAR’s Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering, launched in November 2024, this partnership leverages Hong Kong’s position as a global maritime and financial centre to build a robust green marine fuel bunkering supply chain, integrating the Mainland’s production capabilities with Hong Kong’s international trading gateway.

As a Hong Kong physical bunker supplier and a global leader in marine fuel solutions, CPN is dedicated to expanding the diversity and supply capacity of alternative marine fuels. Beyond biofuels, CPN is looking into the use of methanol as a sustainable bunkering fuel. 

Mr. Calvin Chung, Director & Deputy General Manager of CPN, said: “We are deeply grateful to the TLB for their trust in choosing CPN as a partner to advance a greener Hong Kong. This MOU with the TLB is a game-changer for Hong Kong’s ambition to become a global green bunkering hub. We’re proud to lead the charge in sustainable marine fuel solutions, and this partnership is a bold step toward a cleaner, greener future.”

Photo credit: Chimbusco Pan Nation
Published: 1 July, 2025

The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) on Wednesday (25 June) said it signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with both the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) and Pacific Basin Shipping Limited (Pacific Basin), supporting the HKSAR Government’s initiative to develop Hong Kong as a green maritime fuel bunkering and trading centre.

Green methanol produced by Towngas’s subsidiary uses scrap tyres and agricultural and forestry waste as production feedstock, and has obtained multiple international certifications, including ISCC EU, ISCC PLUS, and ISO6583. 

Towngas is China’s first enterprise to achieve both ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS dual certification whilst commencing large-scale green methanol production.

Under the MOU signed with the Transport and Logistics Bureau, Towngas, as a green maritime fuel producer, will actively supply marine green methanol fuel that complies with current international standards for delivery, bunkering, export, and trading in Hong Kong. The Company will use Hong Kong as a trading and settlement hub, supporting the territory’s development of a green maritime fuel trading market.

The Transport and Logistics Bureau will incorporate Towngas into Hong Kong’s green maritime fuel business cooperation platform, facilitating connections with stakeholders interested in purchasing green maritime fuel, including bunkering operators, liner companies, and other third-party enterprises or institutions, with the aim of developing green maritime fuel-related business in Hong Kong and connecting to international markets.

Simultaneously, Towngas signed an MOU with local shipping company Pacific Basin, establishing a framework for green methanol supply cooperation. Towngas will supply green methanol to Pacific Basin to help its fleet comply with EU and International Maritime Organization carbon emission reduction requirements.

To support green methanol market deployment, Towngas had earlier signed an MOU with Chimbusco in November last year, establishing a complete green methanol supply chain in Hong Kong.

Mr Peter Wong Wai-yee, Towngas Managing Director, stated: “The two MOUs signed today with the HKSAR Government and Pacific Basin mark another step forward for Towngas on the path of green energy transformation. We have consistently provided clean, sustainable fuel solutions for the global shipping industry, supporting Hong Kong’s achievement of carbon neutrality goals and assisting the Government in building a green maritime fuel bunkering centre, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international shipping centre.”

Mr Martin Fruergaard, Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Basin, said, “Our collaboration with Towngas represents important progress in our efforts to enhance our priority access to increasing and eventually very large volumes of green fuels, including green methanol, that ships will need to comply with tightening maritime decarbonisation regulations. Towngas has proven production capabilities, a strong commitment to innovation and decarbonisation, and a deep understanding of shipping’s green fuel needs which, combined with its expansion plans and role in Hong Kong and China’s green marine fuel bunkering ambitions, make Towngas an ideal partner for us.”

Towngas’s green methanol production facility is located in Inner Mongolia, where the product produced recently completed bunkering operations at Shanghai Port—the first large-scale bunkering operation and currently Asia’s largest green methanol bunkering project.

Towngas will continue to increase green methanol production capacity to meet the shipping industry’s growing demand for green methanol. The Inner Mongolia facility’s annual capacity is expected to increase from 100,000 tonnes to 150,000 tonnes by the end of this year. Additionally, the Group, together with Foran Energy, plans to build multiple green methanol production facilities on the mainland, targeting an annual capacity of one million tonnes. The Foshan facility is expected to achieve an initial annual capacity of 200,000 tonnes in its first phase by 2028. 

Photo credit: Towngas
Published: 26 June, 2025

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Friday (6 June) said it has renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bureau Veritas (BV) to deepen collaboration in maritime digitalisation, decarbonisation, and talent development. 

The MoU was signed by MPA Chief Executive, Mr Teo Eng Dih, and BV Group CEO, Ms Hinda Gharbi. This renewal builds on the successful collaboration since 2022. 

As part of the renewed MoU, MPA and BV will explore the establishment of a BV global innovation hub in Singapore. 

The hub will focus on research and application of emerging technologies with multi-industry impact. These include cybersecurity standards and guidelines, and the design and integration of new battery technologies and fuel cell systems.

Both parties will also work together on innovative digital and decarbonisation solutions. These include smart ship systems, AI technologies to enhance vessel inspection, and the use of robotics for in-water applications. Additionally, MPA and BV will promote the adoption of zero and near-zero GHG emission fuels, electrification and wind-assisted propulsion. These initiatives aim to strengthen Singapore’s MarineTech ecosystem. 

To support maritime workforce development, BV will continue its participation in industry manpower programmes such as the MPA Global Internship Award, MaritimeONE Internship and Scholarship Programmes, and the Career Conversion Programme. These efforts aim to attract and nurture maritime talent to support BV’s growth in Singapore, which will contribute to the broader maritime talent based here. 

Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive, MPA, said, “Singapore has a strong innovation ecosystem that brings together researchers, start-up entrepreneurs and tech companies to collaborate with class societies such as BV to deploy AI, autonomy, and cybersecurity.

“We are pleased to partner Bureau Veritas, reaffirming our shared commitment to collaborate on maritime talent development and advancement in digitalisation, innovation, and decarbonisation in the maritime sector.” 

Ms Hinda Gharbi, Group CEO of BV, said, “This renewed collaboration with MPA reflects our continued commitment to support the maritime industry’s priorities in digitalisation, decarbonisation, and talent development. 

“By combining MPA’s leadership in maritime innovation with Bureau Veritas’s extensive global experience and technical expertise, we aim to contribute to the advancement of sustainable and resilient solutions. We look forward to the positive impact this partnership will continue to have on the industry’s future.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 9 June, 2025