Air Liquide and FPS to supply carbon-free hydrogen to multi-modal hydrogen storage suited for inland barges

Air Liquide and FPS to supply carbon-free hydrogen to multi-modal hydrogen storage suited for inland barges

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Air Liquide and Future Proof Shipping (FPS), a provider of zero-emission shipping solutions, have signed a long-term contract for the supply of carbon-free hydrogen to FPS’ inland barge, the Maas, which transports containers between the Netherlands and Belgium, as per Air Liquide's press release.

As part of the agreement, Air Liquide will supply carbon-free hydrogen through specially designed multi-modal hydrogen storage suited for inland barges. The overall solution enables the avoidance of CO2 emissions by nearly 2,000 tonnes/year for the first concerned ship.

The project is a milestone on the path to the decarbonisation of inland waterways. It enables the substitution of conventional fuel used in the shipping industry by hydrogen, thus reducing the sector’s environmental footprint. The solution can be easily replicated to other ships, trains and other applications.

Air Liquide and FPS also partners in the RH2INE Programme (Rhine Hydrogen Integration Network of Excellence), which aims to decarbonise inland shipping on the Rhine river and is endorsed by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management.

Diederick Luijten, Vice President Hydrogen Energy Northern Europe & CIS countries for Air Liquide, said: “We are excited to develop this innovative solution together with Future Proof Shipping by leveraging our hydrogen expertise to contribute to the decarbonisation of the maritime sector. This project will help lower the environmental footprint of inland transport on waterways, a sector that represents 3.4% of the CO2 emissions in the Netherlands.”

As MRC reported earlier, Air Liquide and BASF plan to develop world largest cross-border CCS value chain. The goal is to significantly reduce CO2 emissions at the industrial cluster in the port of Antwerp. The joint project Kairos@C has been selected for funding by the European Commission through its Innovation Fund, as one of the seven large-scale projects out of more than 300 applications.

We remind that BASF aims is to electrify its production processes for basic chemicals, which are currently based on fossil fuels.

We also remind that in mid-February, BASF said it was restarting one of its steam crackers at its Ludwigshafen complex in Germany after operations were halted earlier that month due to a technical issue. The naphtha cracker produces ethylene and propylene, and is one of two crackers on the site. One has a production capacity of 420,000 metric tons/year, with the other"s capacity at 240,000 metric tons/year.

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 2,047,100 tonnes in the first ten months of 2021, up by 17% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,226,530 tonnes in January-October 2021, up by 26% year on year. Supply of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding stat-copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) decreased significantly.

Air Liquide in Benelux comprises subsidiaries active in the production, distribution, and sale of industrial and medical gases, technologies and services of the Air Liquide Group. Founded in Belgium in 1906, in the Netherlands in 1913 and in Luxembourg in 1931, Air Liquide currently operates 28 industrial sites throughout the Benelux. The Group currently employs more than 1,200 people in this region, all activities taken together, and it supplies more than 65,000 customers and patients. The Air Liquide Benelux Large Industries business line operates a pipeline network stretching 2,290 kilometers, which supplies the industrial basins from Mons to Rotterdam.
MRC

GAIL to start up first PDH and PP plants in India by 2024

MOSCOW (MRC) -- GAIL (India) Ltd, India’s principal gas transmission and marketing company under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, is on track to start up its propane dehydrogenation (PDH) facility and polypropylene (PP) plant in Usar, Maharashtra by 2024, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

GAIL has recently chosen Lummus Technology’s CATOFIN process and Clariant’s tailor-made catalysts for India’s first PDH plant. Its upcoming 500 kiloton per annum PDH facility in Usar will be integrated with the downstream PP unit. The cost of PDH-PP project is estimated at USD1.2 B.

Since 2017, CATOFIN Technology has now been selected for a majority of new PDH awards globally, representing 32 new PDH plants, or more than 22 MM metric tons of propylene annually.

Stefan Heuser, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Clariant Catalysts, stated, “We are extremely proud of the ever-increasing global demand for CATOFIN - and we couldn’t have achieved this without our long-time partner, Lummus Technology. Thanks to our collaboration, we are able to offer GAIL (India) Ltd excellent performance and profitability by combining the best of PDH expertise with catalyst innovation.”

As MRC reported earlier, in September 2021, W. R. Grace & Co., the leading independent supplier of polyolefin catalyst technology and PP process technology, licensed its UNIPOL PP process technology to GAIL. This is GAIL’s second UNIPOL PP process technology license, continuing to show the confidence in Grace to deliver value even through the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,226,530 tonnes in the first ten months of 2021, up by 26% year on year. Supply of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding stat-copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) decreased significantly.

GAIL India Ltd is the country’s largest natural gas company, and one of seven Maharatna Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Government of India. Founded in 1984, the Delhi-based company operates in India and abroad in various segments such as transmission services, natural gas, petrochemicals, liquefied petroleum gas and other liquid hydrocarbons.
MRC

Shandong with state-run coal miner to fund mega refinery complex

Shandong with state-run coal miner to fund mega refinery complex

MOSCOW (MRC) -- China's Shandong province, the country's main independent oil refining hub, has turned to a deep-pocketed state-run coal miner to help fund a petrochemical complex it sees as key to the region's industrial future, said Reuters.

Shandong Energy Group, a provincial government-backed coal producer and utility operator, is set to take a 46.1% stake in the USD20 B Yulong Petrochemical plant, becoming the second-largest stakeholder in the project led by privately run aluminum smelter Nanshan Group, three sources said.

Shandong, China's No.3 economy by province, sees Yulong Petrochemical as a cornerstone project that will upscale its fragmented refining sector - made up of some 60 small oil processors - in line with Beijing's broader push to close inefficient plants and build large, competitive manufacturers.

However, the project, which began construction last October on a man-made island in the port city of Yantai, has faced funding challenges, given its size is similar to Nanshan Group's total assets of 137 B yuan (USD21.5 B) as at-end 2020, the sources said.

Under the latest shareholder structure finalized in late November, Nanshan will hold 51% of the venture, local state-run media dzwww.com reported. That compares with an 86% stake it held earlier in November according to qcc.com, a Chinese business registration portal.

Private chemicals group Wanhua and state-run Hualu Holdings share the remaining 2.9% stake, said two of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they're not authorized to speak to media. The sizable stake taken by Shandong Energy - a conglomerate specializing in coal mining and power generation with assets worth 693 B yuan (USD108.92 B) - reflected the Shandong provincial government's strong backing and would support bank lending to the project, the sources said.

A Yulong Petrochemical representative declined comment and referred all queries to the provincial government. Shandong government and Shandong Energy did not immediately reply to request for comment.

As per MRC, Oil prices fell on fears about the economic outlook in the world’s biggest oil importer following ratings downgrades to two Chinese property developers, and after some governments took measures to fight the Omicron varaint of the coronavirus. Brent crude futures fell USD1.01, or 1.3%, to USD74.81 a barrel by 12:05 p.m. EDT (1705 GMT), backing off a session high of USD76.70. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down USD1.00, or 1.4%, at USD71.36 after hitting a peak of USD73.34.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,868,160 tonnes in the first nine months of 2021, up by 18% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,138,510 tonnes in January-September 2021, up by 30% year on year. Supply of propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) decreased significantly.
MRC

Evonik introduces its new silicone release coating

Evonik introduces its new silicone release coating

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik, the expert in UV curable silicone release systems for over 30 years, has launched its new TEGO RC 1442 silicone release coating, as per the company's press release.

TEGO RC 1442 is based on Evonik’s existing RC 1400 series technology and delivers all the same easy release performance benefits customers are used to. Developed for fast curing pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) applications, TEGO RC 1442 provides excellent anchorage to substrates and delivers stable release values over time, even under humid storage conditions.

“The increasing demand from our PSA market customers for globally available, easy-to-apply and high-performing UV curable products inspires us to continually review our portfolio to ensure that we deliver the solutions our customers need to meet changing market dynamics like the growth in online shopping,” said Stefan Stadtmueller, Global Head of TEGO RC Silicones at Evonik.

Ideal for release liners for use in all applications, TEGO RC silicones can be used for industrial release liners, self-adhesive labels, graphic arts, tapes and hygienic products including, food packaging and food contact applications.

As MRC informed earlier, in February, 2020, Dow and Evonik entered into an exclusive technology partnership. Together, they plan to bring a unique method for directly synthesizing propylene glycol (PG) from propylene and hydrogen peroxide to market maturity.

Propylene is the main feedstock for the production of polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,226,530 tonnes in the first ten months of 2021, up by 26% year on year. Supply of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding stat-copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) decreased significantly.

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The focus on more specialty businesses, customer-oriented innovative prowess and a trustful and performance-oriented corporate culture form the heart of Evonik's corporate strategy. They are the lever for profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company. Evonik benefits specifically from its customer proximity and leading market positions. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world with more than 33,000 employees.
MRC

Toyo awarded refinery plant project in India

Toyo awarded refinery plant project in India

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Toyo Engineering India Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyo Engineering Corporation (Toyo-Japan), has been awarded a contract by Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) for the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning of a 3.55 MMtpy Diesel Hydro-treating (DHT) Unit in Assam state of India, Hydrocarbonprocessing.

NRL is a Public Sector Undertaking governed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (Govt. of India). NRL is undertaking a major expansion project from 3 MMtpy–9 MMtpy consisting of several process units with total project cost of Rs. 28,026 Crore, which is part of the government’s 2030 hydrocarbon vision for the economic growth to meet the deficit of petroleum products in Northeast India. This will be a single largest investment in North-East India.

This DHT will produce the diesel confirming to BS VI specifications by hydro treating a blend of refinery products. Toyo-India had executed another unit for NRL, back in 2006 on EPCm basis. In India, which has a vast population and huge middle-class population that continues to grow, TOYO is committed to contributing to the economic development of the country.

As per MRC, Toyo Engineering Corporation has been awarded a contract to design a new petrochemical complex owned by PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical in Indonesia. The global facility, for which Toyo has been awarded an FEED contract, is the second Chandra Asri project to be built adjacent to the existing petrochemical complex at Chilegon, on the west side of Java, Indonesia.

As MRC informed earlier, Toyo Engineering Group (TOYO) has been awarded a contract of Acrylic Acid Production plant with capacity of 100,000 tons/year in Cilegon, Banten, on the western tip of Java, Indonesia from PT. NIPPON SHOKUBAI INDONESIA (NSI), Indonesian subsidiary of NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD. (NSCL).

Toyo Styrene was founded in April 1999 as a polystyrene company based on Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (now: Denka Co., Ltd.), Nippon Steel Chemical Co., Ltd. (currently: NIPPON STEEL Chemical & Material Co. Ltd.) And Daicel Chemical Co. (Daicel Corporation).
MRC