Page 170 - CW E-Magazine (12-11-2024)

News from Abroad

LONG-TERM DEAL
Maersk to source bio-methanol from Chinese firm

Danish shipping and logistics giant, First volumes are expected in 2026
A.P. Moller-Maersk, has signed a long- with full production expected at the end
term bio-methanol offtake agreement of the decade.
with Chinese photovoltaic and electro-
lyser company, Longi Green Energy The deal will meet Maersk’s metha-
Technology Co. Ltd. The agreement nol sustainability requirements includ-
will contribute to lowering GHG emis- ing at least 65% reductions in GHG
sions from Maersk’s growing fleet of emissions on a lifecycle basis com-
dual-fuel methanol container vessels. The agreement has evolved out of pared to fossil fuels.
Maersk’s growing global alternative
With the addition of the Longi vol- fuels portfolio of which several other “While we believe that the future
umes, Maersk said it will have made methanol projects are currently in of global logistics will see several
significant progress in securing enough advanced stages of maturity. pathways to net-zero, this agreement
methanol for its owned dual-fuel underscores the continued momentum
methanol fleet of which seven vessels are The agreement with Longi delivers for methanol projects that are pursued
already in operation. Maersk’s combined bio-methanol produced at a facility by ambitious developers across mar-
methanol offtake agreements now meet in Xu Chang, Central China. The kets,” commented Ms. Emma Mazhari,
more than 50% of the dual-fuel metha- bio-methanol is produced from resi- Head of Energy Markets at A.P. Moller-
nol fleet demand in 2027. dues (straw and fruit tree cuttings). Maersk.
LITHIUM-ION BATTERY SEPARATORS
Asahi Kasei’s Canadian battery materials arm

to take on Honda as jv partner

Japanese firms – Asahi Kasei and
Honda Motor – have signed a share-
holders’ agreement to convert an exis-
ting Asahi Kasei subsidiary in Canada
into a joint venture company. This
agreement was reached as a result of
continued discussions on collaboration
for the production of lithium-ion bat-
tery separators in Canada based on the
basic agreement the two companies
announced on April 25, 2024.

The two companies plan to con-
vert E-Materials Canada Corporation
(E-Materials), a wholly-owned subsi-
diary of an Asahi Kasei subsidiary in Configuration for Seprator Production in North America
Canada, into a joint venture between
Asahi Kasei and Honda to be tentatively Inc, a Honda subsidiary in Canada, C$417-mn (approximately $300-mn)
renamed Asahi Kasei Honda Battery acquiring a 25% stake by subscribing to combining the subscription of new
Separator Corporation. new shares to be issued by E-Materials shares and other investment in this joint
through a third-party allotment. Honda venture. The two companies will combine
This will be based on Honda Canada will invest a total of approximately each other’s strengths, such as material

170 Chemical Weekly November 12, 2024

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