Singapore pursues low-carbon methanol development to lead maritime fuel innovation

(Photo: Unsplash)

Singapore, as the world's largest maritime fuel supply center, is actively developing alternative fuels in response to the global net-zero trend. According to Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, Singapore is confident in supplying 1 million tons of low-carbon methanol annually.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) sought proposals in last December, aiming to identify solutions for stable supply of low-carbon methanol by 2025. This initiative is in response to the increasing number of methanol-powered ships in the country.

During Singapore Maritime Week, Amy Khor announced in a conference that the submission received have the potential to meet over 1 million tons of methanol by 2030, indicating the industry’s readiness for the anticipated growth in green methanol bunker demand years ahead.

Amy Khor attends the Singapore Maritime Week. (Photo: Amy Khor's Facebook page)

Teo Eng Dih, the Chief Executive of MPA, emphasized that this move was geared towards establishing a resilient methanol supply chain, “this marks an important step towards development of a methanol licensing framework to enable the supply of methanol at scale in the Port of Singapore,” he added.

The national standards for supplying methanol as a marine fuel in the country are expected to be established by next year.

On the same event, Chee Hong Tat, the transport minister also announced that they will set up the Maritime Energy Training Facility (METF), a facility to train global maritime workforce in handling and operating vessels using alternative greener fuels such as methanol and ammonia.

Currently, the Letter of Intent to establish this facility was signed by the country’s MPA and the other 22 partners, including global marine engine manufacturers, international organizations, classification societies, trade associations, unions, as well as institutes of higher learning. It was expected to train about 10,000 personnels from now to the 2030s, as the facilities are set to be gradually developed by 2026.