Mitsubishi Gas Chemical first to produce bio-methanol from digester gas in Japan

In Japan, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company has begun producing bio-methanol at a just-completed facility within the company’s Niigata Plant, becoming the first producer of bio-methanol from digester gas in Japan.

Last year, MGC concluded a basic agreement with Niigata Prefecture to purchase and sell digester gas generated at the Niigogawa Sewage Treatment Center, which is owned by Niigata Prefecture. In order to effectively utilize the center’s unused digester gas, MGC installed shipping facilities at the center and receiving facilities at the company’s Niigata Plant to begin producing bio-methanol using existing facilities at the plant.

MGC’s production of bio-methanol and its derivative dimethyl ether (DME) in Niigata has obtained International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification, an international system for managing and ensuring the sustainability of raw materials in global supply chains. In addition, Niigata Prefecture has obtained ISCC PLUS certification for digester gas at the Niigogawa Sewage Treatment Center. As a result, MGC will offer bio-methanol produced from ISCC PLUS digester gas as an ISCC PLUS-certified product.