Methanol (methyl alcohol), with the chemical formula CH3OH, is a pure, colorless, highly volatile and flammable liquid that mixes with water in any proportion and has an odor similar to that of ethyl alcohol. It is one of the most sought-after raw materials in many branches of the chemical industry. Methanol is used as an inhibitor to prevent the formation of crystalline hydrates in oil and gas production, treatment and transportation, in wells, pipelines and underground gas storage facilities. It is also used in the production of acetic acid, plastics, synthetic fibers, household paints, adhesives and other products. In addition, methanol can be used as a high-octane additive to gasoline and as a fuel for internal combustion engines.
Located in the Garadagh district of Baku, the Methanol Plant was commissioned in 2013 and became the country's first gas-chemical production facility. The plant uses the low-pressure methanol production technology of ICI (United Kingdom). In November 2016, the plant was taken over by SOCAR Methanol LLC, a subsidiary of SOCAR, and since October 2018 it has been part of SOCAR's structure.
The Methanol Plant has an annual production capacity of 561 thousand tonnes and covers a total area of 36.5 hectares.
The plant's production process includes the preparation of the feed gas mixture, generation of high-pressure steam, steam reforming of the feedstock, synthesis of methanol from reformed gas, and purification of crude methanol.
The plant produces Grade "A" technical methanol with a purity of 99.99%, which is classified as pure methanol under international standards. The product holds the international REACH certificate, ensuring steady and sustainable sales in European markets.
The quality of methanol is regularly tested by the plant's Central Laboratory, accredited in line with AZS ISO/IEC 17025:2020, and by an international quality inspection company. The Methanol Plant is certified to the international standards ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System), ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System) and ISO 50001:2018 (Energy Management System).
The methanol produced is sold by SOCAR's Marketing and Economic Operations Department. More than 95% of total sales are exported.
The plant's location plays an important role in efficiently transporting its products to foreign markets. Export products are shipped from the Garadagh station of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC to the Parto-Tskali station of Georgian Railways, and from there to the Kulevi seaport in Georgia. Transportation is carried out using the plant's own fleet of 252 rail tank cars. To ensure that obligations are met on time and in full, the plant has two finished-product storage tanks with a total capacity of 48 thousand tonnes.
For domestic sales, the product is shipped in rail tank cars from Garadagh station to Sangachal station, and is also transported by customers' own specialized trucks. Most of the product sold on the domestic market is supplied to Azneft Production Union.
Ensuring an environmentally clean production process and reducing harmful environmental impacts have always been a priority at the Methanol Plant. The plant's industrial and domestic wastewater treatment facilities undergo regular technical inspections, and waste sorting is kept under control.
The plant's top priorities are the safe management of business processes, asset integrity, environmental protection, and the safe and high-quality performance of all work and operations.