Methanol

Korean firm PLAGEN plans green methanol production project for bunkering

MoU with AGRARCO will see the construction of Azerbaijan’s first commercial-scale green methanol production plant, which will supply green methanol to ships in Caspian Sea.

Published

4 months ago

November 18, 2024

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Korean firm PLAGEN plans green methanol production project for bunkering

South Korean clean energy firm PLAGEN on Friday (15 November) announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an Azerbaijan company, AGRARCO, to produce green methanol in Azerbaijan at the UN COP 29.

The MoU will see the construction of Azerbaijan's first commercial-scale green methanol production plant, which will supply green methanol to ships in Caspian Sea, contributing to the reduction of GHG emissions from maritime transportation.

PLAGEN's MoU aims to produce 10,000 metric tonnes (mt) of green methanol per year for bunkering in the Caspian Sea and will begin feasibility studies in the first half of 2025, with full-scale production starting in the second half of 2028.

The project, which will be funded by the Regional Revitalization Investment Fund, is scheduled to begin construction in March 2025.

“As Azerbaijan is a desert country without abundant forest biomass, the agricultural wastes such as almond shells, hazelnut shells, olive seeds, and cotton stalks will be used as raw materials for green methanol, which will be supplied by agricultural company AGRARCO,” PLAGEN said in statement to Manifold Times.

The Caspian Sea, the largest closed body of water on Earth, is bordered by Russia and Kazakhstan to the north, Iran to the south, Azerbaijan to the west and Turkmenistan to the east, with Azerbaijan being the gateway to Europe.

The company added Russian rail traffic, which used to carry over 90% of the traffic between Europe and China, has been blocked due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and as an alternative, rail traffic in the middle corridor across the Caspian Sea is growing exponentially, creating a critical need to reduce GHG emissions from maritime traffic in the Caspian Sea.

“We expect to produce green methanol at the Port of Baku in Azerbaijan in 2028 and supply it to ships in the Caspian Sea, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping in the Caspian Sea and contributing significantly to the revitalization of the local economy and national energy security,” said John Kyung, CEO of PLAGEN.

PLAGEN also completed the purchase of an industrial complex to build Korea's first green methanol plant in Dongjeom Industrial Complex in Taebaek City, Gangwon Province, and received a construction permit from Taebaek City on 6 November.

Photo credit: PLAGEN
Published: 18 November, 2024

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Alternative Fuels

AAL Shipping names methanol-ready multipurpose heavy lift vessel in China

Singapore-based AAL Shipping says it held a naming ceremony for “AAL Dubai” – a multipurpose heavy lift vessel that is methanol-ready – at CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou.

Published

14 hours ago

March 18, 2025

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AAL Shipping names methanol-ready multipurpose heavy lift vessel in China

Singapore-headquartered project heavy lift carrier AAL Shipping (AAL) on Thursday (13 March) said it held a formal naming ceremony for its fifth Super B-Class vessel, AAL Dubai.

The 32,000 dwt AAL Dubai – a multipurpose heavy lift vessel that is methanol-ready – was officially named on March 12 at the CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou, China.

The AAL Dubai is engineered to transport a vast array of cargo, including heavy lift project equipment, breakbulk, and dry bulk, all on a single voyage. With a combined lifting capacity of 700 tonnes, this vessel is designed to offer high efficiency, cargo flexibility, and economies of scale to shippers worldwide.

The vessel will now embark on its maiden voyage, joining sister vessels AAL Limassol, AAL Hamburg, AAL Houston, and AAL Antwerp in serving project cargo customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.

“We are now over the halfway mark with our Super B-Class deliveries, and those already in service are exceeding our expectations,” said Liew Teck Liong, Chief Financial Officer at AAL.

“With these vessels, we have achieved both company and industry firsts, and we look forward to redefining what a heavy lift, multipurpose vessel can accomplish as we deploy them for complex cargo challenges.”

Later this year, AAL will take delivery of the AAL Dammam, which will be shortly followed by the AAL Newcastle and AAL Mumbai that have an increased maximum heavy lift capability of 800 tonnes.

Photo credit: AAL Shipping
Published: 18 March, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 8.1% on year in February 2025

4.15 mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in February, a drop from 4.51 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2024, according to MPA data.

Published

4 days ago

March 14, 2025

Admin

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 8.1% on year in February 2025

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port decreased by 8.1% on year in February 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.15 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,145,110 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in February, a drop from 4.51 million mt (4,509,330 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in February (against on year) recorded respectively 1.62 million mt (+1.3% from 1.60 million mt), 2.07 million mt (-18.8% from 2.55 million mt), zero (from zero), 8,900 mt (-38.2% from 14,400 mt) and zero (from zero).

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 8.1% on year in February 2025

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in February (against on year) recorded respectively 22,100 mt (+100% from zero), 85,000 mt (+444.9% from 15,600 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero). A new addition, B100, recorded 3,800 mt in February 2025.

LNG and methanol sales were posted respectively at 30,000 mt (11.5% from 26,900) and zero (from zero).

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes by Manifold Times in 2024 can be found below:

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 14 March, 2025

Alternative Fuels

WasteFuel and ITC advance Türkiye biorefinery project for green methanol bunker fuel

Both will team up to commence Front-End Engineering Design on the biorefinery, which once operational, its green methanol will be intended for use as low-carbon marine fuel.

Published

6 days ago

March 13, 2025

Admin

WasteFuel and ITC advances Türkiye biorefinery project for green methanol bunker fuel

US-based next generation bioenergy company WasteFuel on Monday (10 March) announced a partnership with Turkish integrated waste management company ITC to commence the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) on a green methanol biorefinery located in Ankara, Türkiye—the first green methanol facility in Anatolia and one of the largest of its kind in the world.

The biorefinery, which would adjoin ITC’s existing integrated waste management facility, would utilise biogas derived from anaerobic digestion and landfill gas collection. Once operational, its green methanol will be intended for use as low-carbon fuel for the maritime shipping market.

ITC’s Ankara site is one of the largest integrated waste treatment facilities in Türkiye, receiving over 1.8 million metric tons of municipal waste annually from the Ankara metropolitan area.

“Since our founding, ITC has been passionate about identifying innovative applications for municipal waste treatment that have a positive impact on the communities we serve,” said Yavuz Kantur, General Manager of ITC. “This project is a demonstration of this mindset. We are proud to join the Ankara municipality and WasteFuel in celebrating this milestone.”

“WasteFuel is proud to partner with ITC in Ankara, strengthening our global portfolio of green fuel projects,” David Trench, Chief Executive Officer of WasteFuel, remarked. “Green methanol will be crucial for near-term decarbonization of the shipping industry, and this project will help meet this growing global demand.”

Johan Fritz, Global Project Director at WasteFuel stated, “The strong fundamentals of this project—ITC’s operational excellence in Ankara, a cost-effective build utilising proven technology and proprietary processes, and ongoing support from Turkish government representatives—position this next stage for success.”

A final investment decision is expected in early 2026. If approved, the project would position Türkiye as a hub for sustainable marine fuel supply at the intersection of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Photo credit: WasteFuel
Published: 13 March, 2025