Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Signs MoU to Popularize Green Methanol at Yokohama Port

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. has officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Yokohama, led by Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka, and Maersk AS, represented in Japan by Kohei Yamamoto. This strategic collaboration aims to propel the adoption of green methanol at the Port of Yokohama, signifying a significant step towards decarbonizing international marine transportation. The primary objectives include aligning with the Japanese government's International Container Strategic Port and Harbour Policies and actively contributing to the Port of Yokohama's overarching goal of achieving carbon neutrality.

The partnership brings together the expertise of Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC), Maersk AS, a globally renowned integrated logistics company, and the City of Yokohama, renowned for hosting Japan's comprehensive port facilities. The focal point of this collective effort is the exploration of methods to supply methanol and green methanol as sustainable marine fuels. By engaging relevant governmental bodies, MGC is committed to materializing and promoting methanol bunkering activities in Japan, thereby playing a pivotal role in the broader initiative to decarbonize marine transportation.

Methanol, recognized for its widespread use as a raw material and in applications related to energy and hydrogen carriers, is poised to experience a surge in demand. This is particularly evident in the marine transport sector, where methanol serves as a viable carbon-neutral fuel option. MGC is already at the forefront of sustainable methanol production, as exemplified by its Niigata Plant's Carbopath™ Circular Carbon Methanol (CCM) concept. Starting from the upcoming spring, this facility is scheduled to commence the production of biomethanol using unused biogas sourced from a neighboring sewage treatment plant owned by Niigata Prefecture.

MGC is concurrently exploring innovative avenues, such as the recycling of waste plastics into methanol through gasification and collaborating with various companies in Japan for methanol production from CO2 emissions. The company is also actively assessing the feasibility of commercializing renewable methanol from CO2 and renewable hydrogen in collaboration with Cement Australia in Australia. The collective impact of these initiatives, including Carbopath™, is expected to significantly contribute to the global decarbonization efforts within the shipping industry.

The Carbopath™ initiative spearheaded by MGC is driven by the vision of recycling CO2, waste plastics, biomass, and other materials into methanol, serving diverse applications as chemicals, fuel, and in power generation. Leveraging proprietary catalysts and technology developed over an extensive period, MGC is committed to realizing the social implementation of Carbopath™ under the guiding principle of "Creating value to share with society." This commitment extends beyond individual projects and aims to actively contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering the transition toward a recycling-oriented society.