MOL-led consortium to study synthetic methanol supply chain

A consortium of companies led by Japanese shipping line Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) will jointly study synthetic methanol (e-methanol) supply chain including marine transport of C02.

PHOTO: Illustration of the project’s synthetic methanol supply chain. MOL

E-methanol or electrochemical methanol is produced through combining green hydrogen derived from renewable energy sources and CO2.

Other partners of the project include petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan and US-based electrofuel company HIF Global’s subsidiaries, HIF USA and HIF Asia Pacific.

In this joint development project, the partners will collaborate to develop a synthetic methanol supply chain, encompassing the transportation of CO2 as a raw material. The project involves conducting feasibility studies for CO2 marine transport from Japan to HIF’s overseas synthetic methanol production plants and establishing a supply chain to transport synthetic methanol produced by HIF at overseas production plants to Japan.

Additionally, the project aims to enhance the efficiency and cost competitiveness of marine transportation for both CO2 and synthetic methanol.

The entire lifecycle of synthetic methanol “from production to use of the final product” is expected to reduce carbon emissions significantly, MOL claims.

However, the companies have not disclosed if any part of the synthetic methanol has been earmarked for the shipping industry.

In February, MOL partnered with Japanese corporation Itochu, HIF and Japanese steel manufacturer JFE Steel to conduct a feasibility study on e-fuel and carbon capture supply chain.

By Tuhin Roy

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