Egypt plans first green methanol plant

Egypt is gearing up to provide biofuel to the shipping industry by setting up its first climate-friendly methanol plant.

ESI Africa reports that the plant in Damietta port will have an initial production capacity of 40 000 tons of green methanol a year year, which could be ramped up to 200 000 tons a year.

Attracting an investment of US$450 million, the green methanol plant is a first for the country, says Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek el Molla.

S&P Global describes green methanol as being derived from a feedstock of biomass or municipal solid waste in a process that emits zero or a minimal amount of GHGs.

According to a memorandum of understanding, the project will be jointly developed by the Alexandria National Refining and Petrochemicals Company and Norwegian renewable energy developer Scatec, in collaboration with the Egyptian Bioethanol Company.

The project includes the construction of two renewable energy power plants with solar capacity of 40 MW and 120 MW wind power. It will also include a 60 MW green hydrogen analyser and a desalination plant as well as storage for the green methanol.