The Methanol Institute (MI) has urged the IMO to adopt the Net-Zero Framework (NZF) at its October 14-17 meeting, highlighting that more than 250 projects for low-carbon, bio- and e-methanol are already under development worldwide.
“Today, there is already enough methanol available to fuel the ships in operation,” the Institute said in a statement, adding that significant new production volumes are expected to come online between 2027 and 2028.
MI estimates that 7–14 million tonnes of renewable and low-carbon methanol could be available globally by 2030.
Adoption of the NZF would introduce stricter fuel standards, an emissions pricing mechanism, and incentives for zero and near-zero fuels.
MI said it would “mark the most significant milestone yet in shipping’s decarbonisation journey” and send a strong investment signal to the market.
“Methanol producers are ready to deliver,” it said.
By contrast, failing to approve the framework would “slow progress, create uncertainty around the availability of alternative fuels, and leave the industry with a patchwork of national and regional rules that will be costlier, more burdensome and less effective,” the Institute warned.
