MOSCOW (MRC) -- Poland’s PKN Orlen has signed a letter of intent and a feasibility study contract with KBR with a view to processing waste plastics into liquid and gaseous products that can be used in the production of chemicals, monomers and polymers, said Biznespolska.
State-controlled Orlen and technology and engineering services provider KBR would analyse the possibility of using KBR-licensed Hydro-PRT SM technology in the recycling and “circular economy” project, it added. The project would help Orlen achieve its target of becoming emissions neutral by 2050, the company said.
Orlen said that in Europe, 24.5mn tonnes of plastic waste are generated annually, with more than one-third recycled, 42% incinerated, and 24% landfilled.
“We are a responsible company that has a real impact on the protection of the natural environment, which is why we are committed to the implementation of the goals of sustainable development. By undertaking cooperation with KBR, we are taking another important step in this direction. The technology we are analyzing is to enable the recycling of plastic waste and the use of raw materials obtained in this way for the production of petrochemical and refining products. It will be our response to global trends related to environmental protection, which will at the same time contribute to building the value of the concern in the long term, ”said President Daniel Obajtek, quoted in the press release.
Cooperation between PKN Orlen and KBR will be based on the use of the Hydro-PRTSM technology licensed by KBR. It involves the processing of waste plastics into liquid and gaseous products, which can then be processed and used in the production of chemicals, monomers and polymers. The signed letter of intent and the contract for the feasibility study assume that KBR will take an active part in the implementation of the project tailored to the needs of the Orlen Group and will provide the required technical support and expert knowledge, underlined.
As MRC reported before, earlier this month, PKN Orlen signed a final contract with Hyundai Engineering and Tecnicas Reunidas for the engineering and construction of the main units for PKN Orlen's previously announced Olefins Complex III project at Plock, Poland.
Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,176,860 tonnes in the first half of 2021, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of exclusively low density polyethylene (LDPE) decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.
PKN Orlen is a leading player on the fuels and energy markets, and the largest company in Central and Eastern Europe, listed in prestigious global rankings such as Fortune Global 500, Platts TOP250 and Thompson Reuters TOP100. The ORLEN Group operates in 6 home markets – Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Slovakia and Canada.
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