TOKYO - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Akimitsu Ashida) today announced that MOL Group chemical tanker operator Tokyo Marine Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo; President: Hirohiko Tanaka) has delivered the first biomass fuel ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE)*¹.ever imported to Japan. The Ginga Lanner (19,997 MT) left the port of Fos, France, in early February, to discharge its cargo in Yokohama.


This shipment of ETBE was imported for verification testing by the Japan Biofuels Supply LLP*², a joint project backed by major oil companies.


The MOL Group Corporate Principles state that its top priority is to protect the marine and global environment, and it continues to work proactively on the transport of biomass fuels (bio ETBE and bio ethanol), which are expected to be in great demand as environment-friendly fuel sources.


Note 1: Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE, C2H5OC (CH3)3), is a compound produced by a chemical reaction between bio ethanol (C2H5OH) and isobutylene (CH2=C(CH3)2). It has drawn attention in recent years as a fuel that reduces carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions when added to gasoline can help reduce dependence on petroleum.


Note 2: The Japan Biofuels Supply LLP, established in January 2007, is an organization that jointly procures and supplies bio ethanol and bio ETBE in order to ensure the achievement of Japan’s target for introducing bio ethanol in 2010. Its stated purpose is to help Japan achieve its target of ensuring 20% of the total amount of gasoline consumed contains an element of bio ethanol. This is one step to achieve the goals set out in the Kyoto Protocol.


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Tokyo Marine Co., Ltd. provides, safe, efficient, and reliable ocean transport of liquefied chemical products and animal and vegetable fats and oil on a global scale. It operates about 50 chemical tankers in the 3,000 to 25,000 dwt class (approx. 900,000 MT in total). This is the largest chemical tanker fleet in Japan and the fourth largest in the world.