Egypt and Norway to jointly produce bio-methanol for shipping

Egypt's Alexandria National Refining and Petrochemical Company and Norwegian renewable energy producer Scatec will produce 40,000 mt/year of bio-methanol as a low-emission marine fuel alternative.

PHOTO: Gantry cranes in the container terminal at the Port of Damietta in Egypt

The production facility will be located along the Mediterranean coast in Egypt's Port of Damietta. The plant will also include a seawater desalination plant and a bio-methanol storage facility. In the future, the production capacity can be increased to 200,000 mt/year.

Bio-methanol is produced using sustainable biomass as a feedstock to generate syngas. The production requires little to no fossil fuel usage, thereby reducing its overall carbon footprint. However, it emits CO2 and carbon monoxide, which are naturally present in the waste streams.

Biomass for the plant will be supplied by Egypt’s state-owned Egyptian Company for Bio-Ethanol which imports around 460,000 mt/year of biomass.

The project will place Egypt “on the global map of countries producing this green fuel to supply ships,” the joint statement says.

Scatec has also partnered with Egyptian Petrochemical Holding Company and Misr Fertilizer Production Company on a green ammonia production project in Egypt.

By Konica Bhatt

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