Methanex says it plans to advance low-carbon project this year

By Medicine Hat News on March 14, 2025.

Methanex is clarifying that the global methanol producer plans to “advance” one large low-carbon project in 2025, rather than approve a final investment decision this year.

In Tuesday’s edition of the News, it was reported that plans to build a bio-digester at the Methanex plant in Medicine Hat are being considered to supply the facility with renewable natural gas supply, heat and carbon dioxide that would be reprocessed.

As well, the company is undertaking design and feasibility work to refit facilities with carbon capture, utilization and sequestration equipment. The Medicine Hat plant and the company’s facility at Geismar, La., are described in company literature as the leading candidates.

Geismar 3 outage

Methanex reported an unplanned outage occurred in February at its new Geismar 3 production facility, and it may remain offline until May, the company said this week

That plant, with annual production capacity of 1.8 million tonnes, was commissioned last summer and an inspection last month revealed repairs are needed to the autothermal reformer. Other typical plant maintenance will proceed during shutdown.

Financial markets reacted poorly to the Methanex report earlier this week as a broader pullback on stock hammered investors.

Methanex stock lost nearly $8 per share, falling to near $53 on Monday, but was essentially level at the end of Tuesday’s trading.