Abu Dhabi, UAE – June 4, 2025 — AD Ports Group has inked a strategic collaboration agreement with Masdar, Dutch storage firm Advario, and French shipping giant CMA CGM Group to assess the feasibility of developing an e-methanol bunkering and export facility at Khalifa Port and the Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD Group).
The initiative marks a major step toward bolstering the UAE’s green energy ambitions by establishing essential infrastructure to bridge the gap between commercial-scale e-methanol production and global off-takers, such as CMA CGM. In a statement, AD Ports emphasized that the project will play a vital role in completing the supply chain for clean fuel alternatives.
Saif Al Mazrouei, CEO of the Ports Cluster at AD Ports Group, highlighted the importance of the project in supporting the maritime industry’s transition to cleaner fuels. “This facility at Khalifa Port will not only fuel the growth of sustainable shipping but also contribute meaningfully to reducing carbon emissions,” he said.
E-methanol, a derivative of green hydrogen, is gaining traction as a key component in decarbonizing sectors that are traditionally difficult to abate, including global shipping. “Over 80 percent of global trade moves by sea. Building partnerships like this is critical to developing robust green hydrogen value chains,” said Dr. Faye Al Hersh, Head of Green Hydrogen Business Development (UAE) at Masdar.
CMA CGM, a leader in the adoption of low-carbon maritime solutions, is expected to be one of the facility’s primary users. Christine Cabau Woehrel, Executive Vice President for Assets and Operations at CMA CGM, noted that the company is on track to operate a fleet of over 153 vessels capable of running on low-carbon and synthetic fuels such as e-methanol by 2029.
This new partnership builds on a 2023 memorandum of understanding between AD Ports Group and Masdar to explore a green hydrogen hub within KEZAD. It also supports Abu Dhabi’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy and the UAE’s National Hydrogen Strategy, which aims to boost hydrogen production to 1.4 million tonnes annually by 2031 and 15 million tonnes by 2050.
The proposed e-methanol hub would position the UAE as a regional leader in sustainable maritime infrastructure, contributing to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with international climate goals.
