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MGC and Maersk to promote use of methanol derived from hydrogen/CO2 at Port of Yokohama

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. announced  that it has signed a MoU with the City of Yokohama and Maersk AS to promote the use of green methanol at the Port of Yokohama. By utilizing green methanol, which has low greenhouse gas emissions, as an alternative marine fuel, the agreement aims to decarbonize international marine transportation, promote the Japanese government’s International Container Strategic Port and Harbour Policies and contribute to the Port of Yokohama’s shift to carbon neutrality.

MGC will collaborate with Maersk ASp, one of the world’s leading integrated logistics companies, and the City of Yokohama, home to Japan’s leading comprehensive port, to study ways of supplying methanol and green methanol as marine fuels. With the cooperation of relevant government agencies, MGC will work to realize and promote methanol bunkering in Japan and contribute to decarbonization in marine transportation.

Methanol is widely used as a raw material and for applications including those related to energy and hydrogen carriers. Demand for methanol is expected to grow significantly, especially in the marine transport sector, because it can be used as a carbon-neutral fuel. MGC already produces methanol from CO2 and hydrogen at its Niigata Plant under the Carbopath™ Circular 

Carbon Methanol (CCM) concept and from next spring, the same plant is scheduled to begin production of biomethanol using unused biogas generated from a nearby sewage treatment plant (septic center) owned by Niigata Prefecture as a feedstock. MGC is also studying the recycling of waste plastics into methanol through gasification and the production of methanol from CO2 emissions with various companies in Japan. In Australia, the company is considering the feasibility of commercializing renewable methanol from CO2 and renewable hydrogen in collaboration with Cement Australia. Together with conventional methanol, Carbopath™ will contribute to the decarbonization of shipping around the world.

 

The Carbopath™ initiative aims to recycle CO2, waste plastics, biomass, and other materials into methanol for use as chemicals, fuel, and in power generation and is made possible through MGC’s proprietary catalysts and technology developed over many years. Under the banner of “Creating value to share with society”, MGC will continue to advance the social implementation of Carbopath™ and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases and the realization of a recycling-oriented society.

Photo of MGC: Mr. Yamamoto/ Maersk AS (left), Dr. Yamanaka/ Mayor, the City of Yokohama (center), Mr. Fujii/ MGC (right)

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