OCI Global and A.P. Moller-Maersk Collaborate to Fuel First Green Methanol-Powered Container Vessel

OCI Global, in partnership with A.P. Moller-Maersk, has successfully fuelled the world's first green methanol-powered container ship. OCI, a leader in green methanol production through its OCI HyFuels brand, is revolutionising the maritime industry by utilising renewable and low-carbon hydrogen fuel.

This groundbreaking maiden voyage signifies a significant milestone in the decarbonisation of global shipping. It serves as proof-of-concept for green methanol as a safe, efficient, and commercially viable fuel option for the shipping industry, which currently accounts for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The container vessel is set to embark on its maiden voyage from South Korea to Northern Europe via the Suez Canal, traversing one of the busiest shipping routes in the world. During the journey, the ship will make stops at major ports along the way, where OCI is acquiring the necessary approvals and permits to commercially bunker methanol. Notably, OCI will become the first commercial bunker operator of methanol in regions such as the Port of Rotterdam.

This venture represents a significant stride in OCI's commitment to providing marine customers with end-to-end green methanol solutions at key global bunkering locations. It solidifies green methanol as the premier choice for decarbonising the marine sector and aligns with the industry's increased focus on meeting stricter regulations for emissions reduction, exemplified by initiatives like the FuelEU Maritime program.

As the maritime industry progresses towards decarbonisation, OCI anticipates a surge in global methanol demand, with orders from the marine sector projected to exceed 4 million tonnes annually by the mid-2020s.

OCI's strategic vision revolves around being the preferred last mile operator at vital bunkering ports. To achieve this, the company collaborates with relevant authorities, certification bodies, terminal infrastructure partners, and bunker barge operators. In line with this strategy, OCI previously announced its partnership with Unibarge to retrofit the world's first methanol-powered bunker barge, which will be deployed at the Port of Rotterdam.

OCI's pioneering efforts extend beyond methanol, as the company leads the way in hydrogen fuels through its OCI HyFuels brand. With its extensive production capabilities, OCI is currently the largest global producer of green methanol. The company has played a pivotal role in developing green methanol applications in vehicle fuels, placing up to 200,000 tons per year equivalent. OCI's range of low-carbon and green methanol products includes biomethanol, e-methanol, recycled carbon fuel (RCF) methanol, renewable natural gas, ethanol, and bio-MTBE.

To meet the expected surge in demand for renewable and low-carbon ammonia and methanol, OCI has unveiled several major projects aimed at significantly increasing sustainable production. These initiatives include the GasifHy project, which will transform OCI's existing European methanol facility into a green methanol production site. Additionally, OCI plans to establish a 1.1 million tonnes per annum blue ammonia plant in Texas, USA, by 2025, and has already produced the first tons of green ammonia through its Egypt Green ammonia facility in collaboration with Fertiglobe, a strategic partnership between OCI and ADNOC.

Ahmed El-Hoshy, CEO at OCI Global, expressed his delight at partnering with Maersk to fuel the first-ever green methanol voyage. He emphasised OCI's commitment to supplying and trading renewable and low-carbon fuels for decarbonising energy-intensive industries. El-Hoshy also acknowledged the collaboration and leadership of partners at various ports, acknowledging their essential role in facilitating this groundbreaking journey. With the maritime industry facing mounting regulatory scrutiny, El-Hoshy stressed the urgency of decarbonization and OCI's critical role in helping the sector achieve its environmental goals through their methanol capabilities.

Bashir Lebada, CEO of OCI Methanol/HyFuels, expressed excitement about this new phase in their methanol business. He highlighted the significant progress made in the marine sector and commended Maersk for their leadership in decarbonising the maritime industry. Lebada praised Maersk's early focus on methanol and their commitment to ordering methanol-powered vessels, which has propelled OCI's success in this field. He also emphasised OCI's distribution system and last mile capabilities, leveraging their expertise in road fuel logistics and fuel blending systems. Lebada concluded by highlighting OCI's plan to expand their green bunker barge fleet in response to growing demand.

Emma Mazhari, Head of Energy Markets at A.P. Moller-Maersk, expressed gratitude towards OCI Global for their exemplary leadership and collaboration in fueling the maiden voyage of their landmark vessel. Mazhari acknowledged OCI's commitment to assisting Maersk in providing valuable services to their customers. She emphasised that this collaboration, along with similar initiatives by companies like OCI Global, is driving a much-needed transition in a heavily-polluting industry. Mazhari expressed hope that such efforts will enable the successful realisation of the industry's transition towards a greener future.