About Methanol
Our Methanol
Methanol, with the chemical formula CH3OH, is the most basic type of alcohol and is produced commercially in a three-stage process from natural gas (methane) and steam. Its most widespread use is as an industrial chemical, for the production of formaldehyde, acetic acid, solvents and antifreeze amongst other things, though it is also used as a fuel for gas turbines, engines and new fuel cell technologies.
Our methanol plant uses a methanol process technology jointly owned by MGC and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., which has already been deployed for similarly-sized plants in Ar-Razi Saudi Methanol and METOR Venezuela.
Uses of Methanol
Methanol is vastly used in everyday life, however most notably it is a versatile enabler for the petrochemical industry as it is a feedstock of the most needed of consumer products.
The largest user of methanol is for the production of formaldehyde, which is a basic intermediate with a wide range of end-use applications. Other large user of methanol is for the production of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE), which is blended into automotive fuel as an octane enhancer.
Uses of methanol are so diverse that it includes use as a raw material for the production of safe and environmentally friendly biochemical products as well as for the production of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) which is used for making parts of materials for LCD TVs.
Additionally, as an indication of the growing potential of methanol usage, an entire methanol economy, based on methanol as a primary energy-storage medium and fuel, has been seriously proposed.
