The energy company Mabanaft plans to convert four of its tanks in the Hamburg port into methanol storage tanks over the next two years.
The aim is to simplify the import of low-carbon methanol to northern Germany in future, according to the company. According to Mabanaft, it expects demand to grow in the future, both in shipping and other areas of transportation as well as in the chemical industry.
While the tanks are to be converted from mid-2025, the start of methanol storage is planned for 2027. Mabanaft intends to import the methanol itself and store and distribute it in Germany and possibly at other locations.
With the decision to apply for the necessary permits in January of this year, the company has set the course for the multi-million euro investment. The prerequisite for the project is the successful completion of an approval procedure with the Hamburg Authority for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture (BUKEA).
The four tanks have a total capacity of around 20,000 m³. Subject to the necessary approvals, the conversion will take place in two stages: the first two tanks will be completed by mid-2026, and the other two tanks by 2027.
In Europe Mabanaft supports especially cruise lines
Mabanaft is working with both existing and new customers to develop the most suitable solutions for decarbonising its own fuel needs: “CO2-reduced methanol can be produced in various ways: through e-methanol synthesis using renewable electricity and captured CO2, through biomethanol production from biomass or through the production of so-called blue methanol from natural gas with carbon capture and storage,” explains Joost Vespermann, Business Developer in the Sustainable Fuels division at Mabanaft. According to Vespermann, all of these types of low-carbon methanol will be used in the future, depending on regional legal requirements and customer preferences.
“There is no one solution for sustainable fuels in shipping,” says Oleksandr Siromakha, Head of Sustainable Fuels at Mabanaft. “That’s why we strive to offer our customers a wide range of options tailored to their needs – now and in the future. In addition to conventional fuels, we already offer biofuels and want to add further tailor-made solutions such as hydrogen, ammonia and methanol to our range.”
He adds: “Our aim is to make the transition easier for our customers by making methanol and other alternative fuels more accessible. The challenges of decarbonisation are enormous. We are here to support our customers every step of the way.”
In Europe, in particular, Mabanaft is helping cruise lines and other players in the shipping industry to use methanol. In addition to shipping, the company also wants to offer methanol in other areas of the transportation industry, for example, as a gasoline additive and in the chemical industry. In January 2024, Mabanaft signed a letter of intent to supply green methanol to TUI Cruises.
