The first consignment of methanol shipped by Statoil to Canada arrived earlier this month on the 15,000-tonne carrier Isarstern.
This vessel delivered a full cargo from the group’s Tjeldbergodden industrial complex in mid-Norway to Montreal.
The methanol has been sold to customers in the neighbourhood of the Canadian city, who will use it to produce chemical raw materials and liquid windscreen cleanser.
“We aim to export 60-90,000 tonnes of methanol per year to Canada, or four-six shiploads,” says Ole Henning Klausen, special coordinator in the Manufacturing & Marketing business area.
Statoil has leased methanol storage capacity in Montreal from Vopak Terminals of Canada. Marketing and sales will be handled by the global Ameritx distribution and marketing company.
An annual output of 870,000 tonnes per year from Tjeldbergodden makes the group one of Europe’s largest producers and marketers of methanol.