What is Methanol?
Methanol is a type of alcohol used as a raw material in a wide range of products, including plastics, synthetic resins, synthetic fibers, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals, adhesives and paints. Currently, methanol is produced from fossil resources such as natural gas and coal, but it can also be produced from CO₂ and waste. Methanol is a basic chemical that is easy to handle and has a wide range of applications, making it attractive as a key substance for achieving a carbon-neutral world. In recent years, methanol has also become a new energy source for carbon-neutral marine fuel and gasoline.
History of MGC’s Methanol Business
MGC’s journey in methanol production is a testament to innovation and perseverance. In 1952, we achieved a significant milestone as a company by producing methanol from domestically extracted natural gas in Niigata, utilizing our own methanol synthesis catalysts and production technologies. This modest beginning, which started only with a small plant that produced only 10 tons of methanol daily, marked the genesis of our thriving methanol business.
As Japan’s economy flourished, we didn’t rest on our laurels. We continuously enhanced our catalysts and production processes to meet the demands of Japan’s growing economy, and ventured into methanol derivatives that broadened our.
product portfolio. Our ambition led us to seek more abundant and competitive natural gas sources overseas in the 1970s, leveraging our expertise in natural gas-based business and related technologies to establish a firm global footprint.
With unwavering determination, we outpaced our competitors, creating a global production ecosystem that was powered by our cutting-edge technologies. MGC took control of the entire value chain, transporting methanol via our dedicated ships and using it internally for derivative production. MGC’s comprehensive approach has earned us the distinction of being the world’s only integrated methanol producer, commanding trust and respect across the market.
As we entered the 2020s, MGC embarked on an exciting new chapter, aligning our methanol business with society’s growing demand for sustainability. Embracing our mission of “creating value to share with society,” we introduced the visionary Circular Carbon Methanol concept. This initiative involves developing technologies compatible with new resources and intensifying efforts to implement a green methanol-based circular economy.
We are now harnessing the full potential of our integrated methanol business, fostering collaboration across the entire value chain. From exploring carbon-neutral raw materials and technologies, to developing applications that channel green methanol’s environmental benefits, MGC now operates at the very forefront of innovation.
Our story is now marked by an exciting new phase, where methanol becomes a catalyst to achieving a sustainable world. We are accelerating our efforts to promote the global adoptions of the Circular Carbon Methanol concept, driven by our passion for creating a greener, more sustainable future. At MGC, we are not just adapting to change; we are leading it and transforming challenges into opportunities for a better tomorrow.
1952
Started producing methanol from natural gas using proprietary technology, a first in Japan (Niigata)
1954
Started producing a methanol derivative (formalin) using proprietary technology, a first in Japan (Niigata)
1955
Started natural gas development with the Kajikawa R-1 exploration well (Niigata)
1960
Started methanol production with a new plant (Niigata), then gradually increased production
1983
Started methanol production in Saudi Arabia
Started transporting methanol with company first dedicated methanol carrier ship
1988
Closed the methanol plant in Niigata
1994
Started methanol production in Venezuela
2010
Started methanol production in Brunei
2020
Started methanol production in Trinidad and Tobago
2021
Started a Niigata pilot plant repurposed for test production using CO₂ and hydrogen
2022
Proposed the Circular Carbon Methanol concept and named it Carbopath™, after which full-scale activities started
Key Features of MGC’s Methanol Business
MGC was the first company in Japan to produce methanol from natural gas, and the first company in the industry to establish methanol production facilities worldwide by utilizing our proprietary technologies. MGC has earned the trust of the global market as the world's only integrated methanol producer involved in the entire methanol value chain, including resource development, innovation of new production technologies, supply of catalysts, management of overseas plant operations, use of dedicated methanol carriers, marketing initiatives, and development of technologies for the production and sale of methanol derivatives.
