Zhoushan issues first methanol bunkering licence – China Daily

The Zhoushan area of the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone has issued its first licence for methanol bunkering of international vessels to Zhejiang Free Trade Zone PetroChina Fuel Oil, a subsidiary of PetroChina Fuel Oil.

IMAGE: Aerial view of Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province. Getty Images

The licence was awarded on 24 December and will be valid for three years, according to state-owned media outlet China Daily.

The company is currently working with shipping lines to secure its first methanol bunkering operation, aligning with Zhoushan’s broader push to grow its green fuel market.

As part of this effort, Zhoushan port introduced the “Operational Management Guidelines for the Pilot Program on Waterborne Refueling of Clean Fuels for International Ships” in July 2025, expanding permitted bunkering fuels within the zone to include LPG, LNG and ammonia.

Momentum around methanol bunkering is building globally. In November, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) issued three methanol bunkering licences, each valid for five years from 1 January 2026.

By Tuhin Roy

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