Consortium signs MoU for the development of a green methanol facility in Egypt
AD Ports Group, Transmar and Orascom Construction have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of a green methanol storage and export facility in Egypt. This facility will aim to supply low-carbon fuel for maritime transport, presenting an opportunity to establish clean alternative energy storage solutions globally.
Green methanol is a synthetic fuel produced renewably and without polluting emissions, and can be produced from green hydrogen. This chemical compound can be used as a low-carbon liquid fuel and is a promising alternative to fossil fuels in areas where decarbonization is a major challenge.
As a fuel, green methanol has several benefits compared to fossil fuels. It is clean-burning and has less and non-toxic emissions. As a liquid, it is easier, safer, and cheaper to store, transport, and handle, as existing infrastructure can be used. It is also a highly efficient and versatile fuel as it is produced from renewable feedstocks including renewable hydrogen and biomethane. Aside from the maritime industry, green methanol can help decarbonize other hard-to-abate industries, including chemical and plastics.
The addition of a facility in this area will provide bunkering solutions for those mainliners who have ordered green methanol powered vessels and is aligned with AD Ports Group’s overall decarbonization strategy and expansion into clean energy liquid bulk storage.
Industry sources anticipate that more than 100 methanol-fueled ships will be in service from 2026, representing around a million tons of additional methanol demand, and according to Drewry and Clarksons, the methanol-fueled vessel fleet will grow from 2% to 14% of the global fleet based on orders already placed.
In pursuit of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy and regulations aimed at decarbonizing international shipping by 2050, green hydrogen-based fuels are set to be the backbone of this shift for the maritime industry, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). As such, global demand for green methanol is expected to increase to 4 MMtpy in the next 5 years based on current orders from the sector.
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