MOL, Air Water plan to use liquefied bio-methane as marine fuel

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Air Water have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly study the trial use of liquefied bio-methane (LBM) derived from cattle manure in LNG-fuelled vessels, the companies said on February 22.

This joint study will be conducted as part of an LBM technology research and development programme approved by Japan's ministry of the environment and promoted by Air Water. LBM is produced from cattle manure in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido by Air Water.

The two companies will confirm that LBM can be transported, supplied, and used without problems using existing shore and onboard equipment. The goal is to use LBM on the MOL's coastal LNG-fuelled vessel in the first half of FY2023. This will be the first use of LBM as marine fuel in Japan, the companies said.

MOL is moving toward decarbonisation to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and shifting to greener alternative fuels such as ammonia and hydrogen. It is accelerating the deployment of LNG-fuelled vessels while taking initiatives aimed at the early introduction of the use of bio-methane and synthetic methane.

Air Water last year started the operation of the first plant in Japan to produce LBM, an alternative fuel to LNG that uses unused biogas produced from cattle manure. It is also working on supplying LBM to food factories and LNG-fuelled trucks.