US-based next generation bioenergy company WasteFuel and Turkish integrated waste management company ITC have signed a partnership agreement to commence the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) on a green methanol biorefinery located in Ankara, believed to be the first green methanol facility in Anatolia and one of the largest of its kind.
The biorefinery, which would adjoin ITC’s existing integrated waste management facility, would use biogas derived from anaerobic digestion and landfill gas collection. Once operational, its green methanol will be intended for use as low-carbon fuel for the maritime shipping market.
ITC’s Ankara site is one of the largest integrated waste treatment facilities in Türkiye, receiving over 1.8m tonnes of municipal waste annually from the Ankara metropolitan area.
Yavuz Kantur, GM ITC, said: “Since our founding, ITC has been passionate about identifying innovative applications for municipal waste treatment that have a positive impact on the communities we serve. This project is a demonstration of this mindset. We are proud to join the Ankara municipality and WasteFuel in celebrating this milestone.”
David Trench, WasteFuel CEO, added: “WasteFuel is proud to partner with ITC in Ankara, strengthening our global portfolio of green fuel projects. Green methanol will be crucial for near-term decarbonisation of the shipping industry, and this project will help meet this growing global demand.”
Johan Fritz, WasteFuel Global Project Director, said: “The strong fundamentals of this project—ITC’s operational excellence in Ankara, a cost-effective build utilizing proven technology and proprietary processes, and ongoing support from Turkish government representatives—position this next stage for success.”
With the maritime industry undergoing a generational shift towards cleaner and more sustainable operations, and over 300 methanol-capable container ships due for delivery by 2030, the use of green methanol as a marine fuel is expected to reduce GHG emissions by up to 90%, enabling sea freight companies to expand their low-carbon shipping solutions and comply with regulations intended to reduce the industry’s emissions.
A final investment decision is expected in early 2026. If approved, the project would position Türkiye as a hub for sustainable marine fuel supply at the intersection of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Image: Agreement between ITC and WasteFuel (source: WasteFuel)
