Mabanaft converting tanks to methanol storage

Mabanaft converting tanks to methanol storage

Energy company Mabanaft says that it plans to convert four of its tanks at the Blumensand tank terminal in the Port of Hamburg over the next two years. The company’s aim is to facilitate the import of low-carbon methanol to northern Germany. Mabanaft expects demand for low carbon methanol to grow in future, both in the shipping and other transport sectors, as well as in the chemical industry.

While the tanks are planned to be retrofitted from mid-2025, the methanol storage is scheduled to start in 2027. Mabanaft intends to import the methanol itself and then store and distribute it in Germany and possibly other locations. The four tanks that would be converted have a total capacity of approximately 20,000 m3. Subject to the necessary approvals their conversion is planned to be carried out in two stages: the first two tanks by the middle of 2026 and the remaining tanks in 2027.

“In the shipping industry, there is no single solution for sustainable fuels,” explained Oleksandr Siromakha, Head of Sustainable Fuels at Mabanaft. “That’s why we are committed to offering our customers a diverse range of options tailored to their needs, both now and in the future. Alongside conventional fuels, we currently offer bio-blends and want to provide more tailored solutions such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol.” He added, “Our goal is to simplify the transition for our customers by making methanol and other alternative fuels more accessible.”