Latest news with #Haw
Business Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Singapore start-up aims to halve the price of sustainable marine fuel
[SINGAPORE] Through their own startup, two scientists are tackling a major challenge in the maritime industry's green push: the high cost and low supply of sustainable methanol. In 2022, Lim Kang Hui and Haw Kok Giap – both then researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) – founded CRecTech, short for 'carbon recycle technologies'. The core offering: a unique catalyst technology that reduces the costs and emissions involved in making certain chemicals. CRecTech is currently applying this to methanol production. 'The problem now is actually the limited supply of green methanol,' said Dr Lim, the startup's chief executive. 'This is why we're trying to focus on that – providing that affordable green methanol solution.' Added Dr Haw, who is chief operating officer (COO) and chief technology officer (CTO): 'We expect that compared to conventional biomethanol production, we can achieve up to 50 per cent cost reduction in capital expenditure and operational expenditure.' The pair received initial funding from the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme and Enterprise Singapore's Startup SG Founder Grant. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am SGSME Get updates on Singapore's SME community, along with profiles, news and tips. Sign Up Sign Up CRecTech has since grown to five people and is now in the pre-seed stage. Last year, it received US$500,000 funding as part of the Breakthrough Energy Fellows – Southeast Asia programme, backed by Temasek, Enterprise Singapore and Bill Gates' climate organisation Breakthrough Energy. Charting a new course The startup's catalyst technology was developed over the past decade by Dr Haw, who has a PhD in chemistry and left NUS to run the startup full time. The technology is now patented. Said Dr Lim: 'The process is known in the literature, but the specific details of our process is our trade secret.' Initially, CRecTech wanted to use this catalyst to make hydrogen production greener, by reducing the energy and carbon footprint of 'steam reforming' – the most common production method. But this proved unpopular with venture capitalists, said Dr Lim. 'Venture capitalists said they are looking to invest in new, emerging technologies – they are not looking for improvements in existing ones.' The startup thus pivoted to sustainable maritime methanol, which is more novel. In 2023, it pitched its catalyst technology for biomethanol production in the Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined at Block71's (Pier71) Smart Port Challenge – and won second place, cementing its shift towards the maritime sector. Pier71 is a joint startup incubator and accelerator by NUS Enterprise and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. Green but costly An example of CRecTech's proprietary catalyst technology. PHOTO: DERRYN WONG, BT Green methanol is one of the alternative fuels expected to replace petroleum-based ship fuel. Methanol made from fossil fuels is readily available, but not sustainable. Green methanol – made from non-fossil fuel sources – can cut emissions of carbon dioxide by up to 95 per cent and nitrogen oxide by 80 per cent, while eliminating sulphur oxide and particulate matter. However, green methanol is two to five times more expensive than normal methanol. According to research firm Bloomberg NEF, low-carbon methanol made up less than 1 per cent of global methanol production in 2024. Furthermore, the maritime industry's demand for green methanol remains extremely low, as not many ships can use it. But Dr Lim expects this demand to increase in the coming years, as regulations prompt shipping companies to cut emissions. He noted that Europe now penalises shipping emissions through its Emissions Trading System scheme, while the International Maritime Organization is adopting stricter emissions targets. The global green methanol market was around US$2 billion in 2024 and is expected to increase to US$37 billion by 2034 with a compound annual growth rate of 34 per cent, according to Precedence Research, while an increasing number of new ships are being built that can use alternative fuels – including methanol. Making it cheaper There are two forms of green methanol: biomethanol that is made from organic sources and e-methanol that is synthesised from hydrogen and carbon dioxide, with electricity used to obtain the hydrogen. E-methanol is more expensive to produce, costing around US$800 per tonne compared to around US$400 for biomethanol, based on CRecTech estimates. CRecTech's process slashes the production cost of biomethanol to US$200 per tonne, bringing it closer to the US$150 per tonne cost of conventional methanol production. This is achieved by making the process shorter and less energy-intensive. In normal biomethanol production, organic material ferments and produces biogas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide. This biogas is 'upgraded' to become synthesis gas – a mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide – and then 'conditioned' to achieve the correct ratio of each gas, before being used to make methanol. With CRecTech's catalyst, biogas can be converted to synthesis gas in the correct proportion and purity, skipping the upgrading and conditioning steps. The process also takes place at a lower temperature, saving energy. Towards the end of 2025, CRecTech will hold a funding round and expand its headcount in preparation for scaling up production. It aims to create a pilot system that can generate 30 tonnes of methanol a year, followed by a commercial-scale demonstration facility by 2028. The facility is likely to be located in Malaysia or Indonesia and use palm oil effluent – a waste byproduct of palm oil production – to create 5,000 to 10,000 tonnes of methanol a year. 'It will be a first-of-a-kind demonstration of our technology at a commercially relevant scale,' said Dr Lim. 'And once we can show that, what we'll do is scale and multiply the same system… in parallel to other biomass sites.' In the long term, the company may help to power more than just ships. While CRecTech is currently focused on supplying green methanol to the maritime sector, it will consider other opportunities in the future, said the founders. This is because methanol and synthesis gas have numerous industrial applications, such as the production of plastics, sustainable aviation fuel and various chemicals.
Kuwait Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
‘Our children are dying slowly,' says father in Gaza
GAZA: Father of four Mahmoud Al-Haw and other Palestinians crowd around a soup kitchen in war-ravaged Gaza, surging forward and frantically waving pots. Small children, squashed at the front, are in tears. One of them holds up a plastic basin hoping for some ladles of soup. Haw pushes forward in the scrum until he receives his share. Al-Haw does this every day because he fears his children are starving. He sets out through the ruins of Jabalia in northern Gaza in search of food, waiting in panicked crowds for up to six hours to get barely enough to feed his family. Some days he gets lucky and can find lentil soup. Other days he returns empty-handed. 'I have a sick daughter. I can't provide her with anything. There is no bread, there is nothing,' said Haw, 39. 'I'm here since eight in the morning, just to get one plate for six people while it is not enough for one person.' The Zionist entity has blocked the entry of medical, food and fuel supplies into Gaza since the start of March, prompting international experts to warn of looming famine in the besieged enclave that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians. Few trucks were allowed to enter Gaza on Monday, after the Zionist entity agreed to allow limited humanitarian deliveries to resume following mounting international pressure. But by Tuesday night, the United Nations said no aid had been distributed. On Wednesday, Zionists gathered at the Karam Abu Salem crossing to block humanitarian aid from entering the strip. The Zionist military has also intensified its military attacks on Gaza. Medics in the territory say Zionist strikes have killed more than 500 people in the past eight days. The Zionist entity's continued assault on Gaza has strained its relations with much of the world. European countries including France, Germany and Britain have said the situation in Gaza is intolerable, and even the support of its closest ally, the United States, now appears to be wavering. Daily search for food Gazans like Al-Haw, living in the epicenter of the war that is now in its 20th month, have no voice in the debate. Al-Haw's life revolves around walking to food kitchens each day, through the destruction wrought by the Zionist entity's bombardments. Even before the war - fought intensively around the family home in Jabalia, just north of Gaza City - Al-Haw's family had its struggles. His niece, who lives with them, uses a wheelchair. His daughter has heart disease and bronchial asthma, he says. Al-Haw climbs the stairs to his one-room apartment, where his children wait, sitting on a mattress. There is no surprise about what he has brought home - soup again. He puts the soup in small tin bowls and hands them to his four children and his brother's two children. The children, quiet, eat slowly and carefully. 'Thank God, as you can see, this is breakfast, lunch and dinner, thank God,' he said. The day before, he said, his family had had nothing to eat. 'I wish everyone would stand by us. Our children are dying slowly,' said Al-Haw. — Reuters
NDTV
21-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Our Children Are Dying Slowly": Father Searching For Food In Starving Gaza
Gaza: Father of four Mahmoud al-Haw and other Palestinians crowd around a soup kitchen in war-ravaged Gaza, surging forward and frantically waving pots. Small children, squashed at the front, are in tears. One of them holds up a plastic basin hoping for some ladles of soup. Haw pushes forward in the scrum until he receives his share. Haw does this every day because he fears his children are starving. He sets out through the ruins of Jabalia in northern Gaza in search of food, waiting in panicked crowds for up to six hours to get barely enough to feed his family. Some days he gets lucky and can find lentil soup. Other days he returns empty-handed. "I have a sick daughter. I can't provide her with anything. There is no bread, there is nothing," said Haw, 39. "I'm here since eight in the morning, just to get one plate for six people while it is not enough for one person." Israel has blocked the entry of medical, food and fuel supplies into Gaza since the start of March, prompting international experts to warn of looming famine in the besieged enclave that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians. Some trucks were allowed to enter Gaza on Monday, after Israel agreed to allow limited humanitarian deliveries to resume following mounting international pressure. But by Tuesday night, the United Nations said no aid had been distributed. And as well as aid shortages, fighting in Gaza has intensified. Last week the Israeli military announced the start of a major new operation against militant group Hamas. Medics in the territory say Israeli strikes have killed more than 500 people in the past eight days. Israel's stepped-up campaign has strained its relations with much of the world. European countries including France, Germany and Britain have said the situation in Gaza is intolerable, and even the support of its closest ally, the United States, now appears to be wavering. Israel denies that Gaza is facing a hunger crisis. It has said its blockade is aimed in part at preventing Hamas militants from diverting and seizing aid supplies. Hamas has denied doing so and accuses Israel of using starvation as a military tactic. Daily Search For Food Gazans like Haw, living in the epicentre of the war that is now in its 20th month, have no voice in the debate. Haw's world consists of walking to food kitchens each day, through the destruction wrought by Israeli bombardments in the war that was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which militants killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 53,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities. Even before the war - fought intensively around the family home in Jabalia, just north of Gaza City - Haw's family had its struggles. His niece, who lives with them, uses a wheelchair. His daughter has heart disease and bronchial asthma, he says. Haw climbs the stairs to his one-room apartment, where his children wait, sitting on a mattress. There is no surprise about what he has brought home - soup again. He puts the soup in small tin bowls and hands them to his four children and his brother's two children. The children, quiet, eat slowly and carefully. "Thank God, as you can see, this is breakfast, lunch and dinner, thank God," he said. The day before, he said, his family had had nothing to eat. "I wish everyone would stand by us. Our children are dying slowly," said Haw.
TimesLIVE
21-05-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
'Our children are dying slowly': Gaza father searches for food
Father of four Mahmoud al-Haw and other Palestinians crowd around a soup kitchen in war-ravaged Gaza, surging forward and frantically waving pots. Small children, squashed at the front, are in tears. One of them holds up a plastic basin hoping for some ladles of soup. Haw pushes forward in the scrum until he receives his share. Haw does this every day because he fears his children are starving. He sets out through the ruins of Jabalia in northern Gaza in search of food, waiting in panicked crowds for up to six hours to get barely enough to feed his family. Some days he gets lucky and can find lentil soup. Other days he returns empty-handed. 'I have a sick daughter. I can't provide her with anything. There is no bread, there is nothing,' said Haw, 39. 'I'm here since eight in the morning, just to get one plate for six people while it is not enough for one person.' Israel has blocked the entry of medical, food and fuel supplies into Gaza since the start of March, prompting international experts to warn of looming famine in the besieged enclave that is home to 2.3-million Palestinians.
RTÉ News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
'Our children are dying slowly' says father searching for food in Gaza
Father of four Mahmoud al-Haw and other Palestinians crowd around a soup kitchen in war-ravaged Gaza, surging forward and frantically waving pots. Small children, squashed at the front, are in tears. One of them holds up a plastic basin hoping for some ladles of soup. Mr Haw pushes forward in the scrum until he receives his share. He does this every day because he fears his children are starving. He sets out through the ruins of Jabalia in northern Gaza in search of food, waiting in panicked crowds for up to six hours to get barely enough to feed his family. Some days he gets lucky and can find lentil soup. Other days he returns empty-handed. "I have a sick daughter. I can't provide her with anything. There is no bread, there is nothing," said the 39-year-old. "I'm here since eight in the morning, just to get one plate for six people while it is not enough for one person." Israel has blocked the entry of medical, food and fuel supplies into Gaza since the start of March, prompting international experts to warn of looming famine in the besieged territory that is home to 2.3 million people. Some trucks were allowed to enter Gaza on Monday, after Israel agreed to allow limited humanitarian deliveries to resume following mounting international pressure. But by last night, the United Nations said no aid had been distributed. And as well as aid shortages, fighting in Gaza has intensified. Last week the Israeli military announced the start of a major new operation against militant group Hamas. Medics in the territory say Israeli strikes have killed more than 500 people in the past eight days. Israel denies that Gaza is facing a hunger crisis. It has said its blockade is aimed in part at preventing Hamas militants from diverting and seizing aid supplies. Hamas has denied doing so and accuses Israel of using starvation as a military tactic. Gazans like Mr Haw, living in the epicentre of the war that is now in its 20th month, have no voice in the debate. His world consists of walking to food kitchens each day, through the destruction wrought by Israeli bombardments in the war that was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which militants killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 53,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities. Even before the war - fought intensively around the family home in Jabalia, just north of Gaza City - Mr Haw's family had its struggles. His niece, who lives with them, uses a wheelchair. His daughter has heart disease and bronchial asthma, he says. Mr Haw climbs the stairs to his one-room apartment, where his children wait, sitting on a mattress. There is no surprise about what he has brought home - soup again. He puts the soup in small tin bowls and hands them to his four children and his brother's two children. The children, quiet, eat slowly and carefully. "Thank God, as you can see, this is breakfast, lunch and dinner, thank God," he said. The day before, he said, his family had had nothing to eat.
