Methanol

Golden Island to procure Towngas green methanol for Singapore bunkering operations

Towngas will provide ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS-certified green methanol to Golden Island’s new Singapore-flagged bunker tanker “Golden Antares”, which is scheduled to begin bunkering trials in July.

Published

2 months ago

April 4, 2025

Admin

Golden Island to procure Towngas green methanol for Singapore bunkering operations

The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas), a ISCC-certified green methanol provider, on Thursday (3 April) announced that Singapore bunker supplier Golden Island Pte Ltd will be procuring Towngas’s green methanol for its bunkering operations in Singapore.

Under this supply arrangement, Towngas will provide ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS-certified green methanol to Golden Island’s new Singapore-flagged bunker tanker Golden Antares.

The vessel is scheduled to depart a Chinese shipyard by late April and will lift the green methanol produced by Towngas before returning to Singapore to begin bunkering trials in July 2025.

Golden Antares, equipped with mass flowmeters and a 6,500-tonne carrying capacity for methanol, will transport the cargo to a Singapore-operated terminal prior to conducting bunkering operations in compliance with Singapore’s recently published Technical Reference (TR) 129 on Methanol Bunkering, providing a comprehensive framework for the safe and efficient use of methanol as an alternative marine fuel.

Mr Sham Man-fai, Chief Operating Officer – Green Fuels & Chemicals of Towngas, said: “We are delighted to see Towngas’s green methanol business gaining significant momentum across the region. The growing interest from clients worldwide in adopting our certified green methanol validates our strategic investment in this sustainable fuel.

“Supplying green methanol to customers like Golden Island aligns perfectly with our commitment to developing low-carbon solutions that support the shipping industry’s decarbonisation journey.

“With our new cooperation plan with Foran Energy Group, we will soon expand our capacity to serve major ports in South China and the Greater Bay Area, including Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, further strengthening our position as a leading green methanol supplier in Asia’s maritime sector.”

Mr Tomohiro Yamano, General Manager of the Marine Fuel Department at Golden Island, said: “We are planning for Golden Antares to lift the green methanol from Towngas, which has obtained ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS certifications, before sailing back to Singapore for bunkering trials.”

“With this arrangement in place, we ensure that green methanol marine fuel, provided by Golden Island, offers Carbon Intensity savings of more than 75% compared to conventional Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil.”

Towngas’s methanol production plant in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, utilises proprietary technology to convert biomass and municipal waste into green methanol and was the first enterprise on the Chinese mainland to produce ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS-certified green methanol. The facility’s annual production capacity, currently at 100,000 tonnes, is expected to increase to 150,000 tonnes by the end of 2025.

Additionally, Towngas has entered into a “Cooperation Framework Agreement for Green Fuel and Chemical Projects” with Foran Energy Group Company Limited, with both parties planning to raise RMB10 billion to establish multiple green methanol production bases across China, targeting a combined annual production capacity of 1 million tonnes. The initial annual production capacity of the Foshan production plant is expected to reach 200,000 tonnes by 2028.

In January, Towngas also signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore-based Global Energy Trading Pte Ltd to jointly advance the supply and distribution of green methanol as a marine fuel.

On 2 April, Manifold Times first broke the news on Golden Island planning to start bunkering trials of green methanol with its new bunker tanker Golden Antares.

Manifold Times also reported Towngas completing the first large-scale bunkering operation for green methanol, produced on the Chinese mainland.

Photo credit: Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
Published: 4 April, 2025

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Methanol

European Commission clears acquisition of OCI methanol business by Methanex

Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given its limited impact on competition in the markets where the companies are active.

Published

4 days ago

May 16, 2025

Admin

European Commission clears acquisition of OCI methanol business by Methanex

The European Commission on Wednesday (14 May) said it has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of the global methanol business of Netherlands-based OCI Global by Canada’s Methanex Corporation.

EC said the transaction relates primarily to the market for the production and supply of methanol.

“The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given its limited impact on competition in the markets where the companies are active,” it said.

“In particular, the Commission examined the effects of the transaction on the supply of methanol in the European Economic Area (EEA).”

The EC found that the transaction does not raise concerns given the fragmented nature of this market in the EEA, and the existence of several alternative providers to which customers could switch following the transaction.

“The notified transaction was examined under the normal merger review procedure,” it added.

Manifold Times previously reported Methanex entering a definitive agreement to acquire OCI’s international methanol business for USD 2.05 billion.

The transaction includes OCI’s interest in two world-scale methanol facilities in Beaumont, Texas, one of which also produces ammonia. The transaction also includes a low-carbon methanol production and marketing business and a currently idled methanol facility in the Netherlands.

In 2023, Maersk signed a deal with OCI on the delivery of green bio-methanol for the maiden journey of its first methanol-enabled container vessel.

Note: More information is available on the EC’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.11812.

Photo credit: OCI Global
Published: 16 May, 2025

Newbuilding

Tsuneishi delivers world’s first methanol dual-fuel Ultramax bulker to NYK

“Green Future” was delivered at Tsuneishi factory on 13 May and will be chartered by NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers, an NYK Group company, from Kambara Kisen.

Published

5 days ago

May 15, 2025

Admin

Tsuneishi delivers world’s first methanol dual-fuel Ultramax bulker to NYK

Tsuneishi Shipbuilding on Wednesday (14 May) said it has delivered the world’s first methanol dual-fuel Ultramax bulk carrier, Green Future.

The 65,700 dwt vessel was delivered at its factory on 13 May and will be chartered by NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers, an NYK Group company, from Kambara Kisen.

Tsuneishi Shipbuilding said the vessel maintains the high cargo capacity and fuel efficiency characteristic of the TESS66 Aeroline design series, while enabling more sustainable operations through the use of methanol as a fuel.

The methanol fuel tank has been positioned to maximise safety and facilitate smooth cargo handling while maintaining loading efficiency. It is also equipped with a fuel-efficient main engine and Tsuneishi’s proprietary Aeroline technology to reduce wind resistance, delivering superior fuel performance.

Mr Okumura Sachio, Representative Director, President & Executive Officer of Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, said: “This delivery marks just the beginning. We will continue constructing methanol dual-fuelled vessels at our overseas facilities and remain steadfast in our pursuit of technological innovation to contribute to a more sustainable maritime industry and global environment.”

NYK said the vessel is the first bulk carrier in the NYK Group to be equipped with a dual-fuel engine that uses methanol and fuel oil.

Vessel Particulars

LOA: 199.99 m
Breadth: 32.25 m
Depth: 19.15 m
Deadweight: approx. 65,700 metric tonnes
Capacity: approx. 81,500 m3
Draft: 13.8 m

Photo credit: Tsuneishi Shipbuilding
Published: 15 May, 2025

Events

Green Shiptech China Congress to explore alternative bunker fuels and ship technologies

LNG, methanol and ammonia as well as fuel cell integration will be among key issues discussed at the annual conference which will be held on 25 to 26 September in Shanghai.

Published

5 days ago

May 15, 2025

Admin

Ridge China on Wednesday (14 May) announced it will be hosting the 14th Green Shiptech China Congress (GSCC), an annual conference which will be held on 25 to 26 September in Shanghai.

More than 4,400 experts and decision makers from governments, classification societies, shipowners, shipyards, research institutes, technology/equipment suppliers and consulting companies attended the previous GSCC from 2012 to 2024.

For 2025, over 400 industry experts, corporate decision makers and government officials will be engaged in comprehensive discussions on current issues of IMO, EU, USCG, China MSA’s policies and regulations, designs and standards for new ship models, innovative and sustainable green ship technologies at this annual conference.

Alternative bunker fuels such as LNG, methanol and ammonia as well as fuel cell integration will be part of the important issues discussed at the event.

Speakers will be from

IMO
European Commission
U.S. Coast Guard
China MSA
Financial Institutions
Maritime Research Institutes
Solution & Technology Providers
Shipowners
Shipyards
Classification Societies

Key topics

Policies and Regulations Update and Interpretate by IMO, European Commission, U.S. Coast Guard and China MSA
Retrofitting Vessels to Achieve Decarbonization Goals
Energy Efficiency Continues to Be Key for Decarbonization
Decarbonization Through Digitalization
Digital Technologies As a Key Enabler for Emissions Reduction
Impact of a Hull Coating Upgrade on Hull Efficiency
LNG As Marine Fuel: Pivoting Towards Cleaner Shipping
Methanol As a Marine Fuel
Ammonia’s Credentials As a Green Fuel
Wind Propulsion Technology
Fuel Cell Integration: Upcoming Challenges and Opportunity
Propelling Carbon-neutral Shipping with Green Engines and Alternative Fuels
Next-generation Electric and Hybrid Marine Propulsion Technologies and Components
Latest Developments in Energy Storage Systems

Interested parties may contact:

Mr. Quin Xu
Tel: +86 21 6607 8610 -8003
Mob: +86 13564222811
Email: [email protected]

Note: The English and Chinese version of the event website can be found here and here respectively while the event registration can be found here.

Photo credit: Ridge China
Published: 15 May, 2025