North Sea Trading Seeks Buyers for 700,000 mt/yr Indian Green Methanol Supply

UK-based bunker trading company North Sea Trading is seeking additional offtake buyers for green methanol from two planned production facilities on India’s west coast, as it expands its commercial role for Indian producer CIST Technology Solutions.

North Sea Trading is acting as CIST’s exclusive sales agent for the planned green methanol output, with combined production capacity expected to reach 700,000 metric tonnes a year across two development phases.

Maharashtra Green Methanol Capacity Raised to 200,000 mt/yr

Robert Preston, North Sea Trading’s newly appointed head of renewable fuels, said the first phase of CIST’s planned complex in Maharashtra, near Mumbai, has been expanded to 200,000 mt/year from an initial target of 50,000 mt/year.

The capacity increase followed CIST’s partnership with North Sea Trading and forms the first stage of a larger production programme targeting the maritime and other clean-fuel markets.

A second phase of 500,000 mt/year would bring total planned production to 700,000 mt/year. The capacity will be divided between the Maharashtra facility and a second plant in Gujarat.

According to Preston, locating production in two regions is intended to provide access to different groups of ports while also helping diversify the biomass feedstock base.

First Green Methanol Deliveries Expected in December 2028

The first deliveries from the Maharashtra project are scheduled to begin in December 2028.

The green methanol is expected to be produced primarily from agricultural residues and other eligible biomass sources. The precise feedstock mix will depend on availability, according to Preston.

CIST plans to certify the fuel under the ISCC EU certification system, with the objective of ensuring compliance with the requirements of FuelEU Maritime and the International Maritime Organization.

The certification strategy is particularly relevant to shipping companies seeking lower-carbon fuels for compliance with increasingly stringent maritime emissions regulations.

North Sea Trading Markets Remaining Production Volumes

CIST has already secured offtake commitments for a substantial portion of the first-phase production through North Sea Trading. The company is now working to secure mandates covering the remaining first-phase volumes as well as output from the second phase.

North Sea Trading said the planned green methanol is being offered at pricing that is highly competitive with current green shipping fuel prices benchmarked in Singapore and Europe.

The additional offtake agreements are expected to provide prospective buyers with access to future supplies as demand for alternative marine fuels grows.

CIST Expands Green Fuels Portfolio in India

North Sea Trading describes CIST Technology Solutions as an accredited Indian green fuels company with activities spanning emerging clean-energy technologies.

The company was recently awarded a contract by state-owned power producer NTPC to develop what North Sea Trading described as India’s first commercial-scale municipal solid waste-to-hydrogen project.

The planned facility is located at NTPC’s NETRA research centre in Greater Noida and is intended to convert municipal solid waste into hydrogen.

North Sea Trading Strengthens Renewable Fuels Focus

Preston brings extensive experience in the bunker industry to his new role, having worked in the sector since 1987. His previous positions include managing director of OW Bunkers UK Ltd and OW Bunkers India Pvt Limited, as well as head of global trading at Prima Marine.

Based in Bournemouth and registered in England, North Sea Trading operates a bunker trading platform covering live bunker prices, cargo trading, carbon credits and credit terms.

The company’s involvement in the CIST project adds green methanol to its broader trading and renewable-fuels activities, while the planned 700,000 mt/year production capacity would give prospective shipping customers access to a significant future supply source from India.