NextChem to supply circular granulate as feedstock for cement production in Italy

MAIRE announces that NEXTCHEM (Sustainable Technology Solutions), through its subsidiary MyRechemical, a leader in waste-to-chemical technology solutions, and Colacem, a major Italian cement producer, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to valorize the inert granulate derived from the waste-to-chemical process by reusing it in cement production, said the company.

The agreement will apply to all MyRechemical’s waste-to-chemical initiatives to be implemented in Italy. A research by University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, supported by laboratory tests carried out by Colacem, confirmed that inert granulate deriving from waste-to-chemical process can be effectively re-used as raw material for the production of cement.

According to the agreement, MyRechemical will supply the inert granulate resulting from its wasteto-chemical process to Colacem, thus maximizing the material recovery and minimizing its landfill disposal. In this way, MyRechemical will be able to reach a conversion rate of approximately 95% of the processed waste, reducing the amount of remaining waste to be disposed into landfill to 5%, well below the 10% target set by the European Union for 2035. Colacem, in turn, will contribute to the decarbonization of its industrial process by using a circular material, in line with its sustainability plan.

Alessandro Bernini, MAIRE CEO, commented: “We are happy to increase our collaborations with major industrial players to accelerate the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors, thanks to our role of energy transition technology enabler.”

Giacomo Rispoli, MyRechemical Managing director, added: “Through our technology, we will implement with Colacem an innovative circular solution which will enable MyRechemical to exceed for the first time the 90% EU target of waste transformed into valuable products in the industry, reducing at the same time the CO2 footprint of the cement sector”.

We remind, MAIRE announces that NEXTCHEM, through its biodegradable plastics technology licensor CONSER, has been awarded technology licensing and catalyst supply by a prominent client, as part of a larger project located in Northwestern China, said the company. The scope of work entails licensing, process design package for CONSER proprietary Duetto technology and technical assistance during project execution, up to commissioning and start-up. As part of the agreement, CONSER will also supply the hydrogenation catalyst.

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Solvay is partnering with transportation providers KIITOSIMEON and ADAMS LOGISTICS to reduce the carbon footprint of its facility in Voikkaa, Finland. Known for its high-productivity hydrogen peroxide technology, the site has a yearly capacity of 85 kilotons, making it the largest hydrogen peroxide unit in the country and one of the largest in Europe, said the company.

However, the transportation of its products results in more than 850 tons of CO2 emissions annually, attributed to the several thousands deliveries conducted each year.

While the Voikkaa site has been operating on 100% wind-generated electricity since 2023, the journey towards decarbonization takes another step forward as it transitions transportation fuel from diesel to biofuel in the first quarter of 2024. This shift will result in a significant annual reduction of over 700 tons of CO2 emissions, representing more than 8O% reduction in the site's transportation carbon footprint.

As part of its commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050, Solvay has outlined a sustainability roadmap with around 40 energy transition projects. These projects focus on eliminating coal usage, emphasizing renewable energy sources, prioritizing energy efficiency, and driving process innovation. Solvay has further committed to reduce its emissions along the value chain by 20% by 2030.

Solvay is the worldwide leading producer and supplier in hydrogen peroxide. It serves diverse markets such as food and wastewater treatment, mining, environmental processes and emerging fields like electronics, battery recycling, and urban mining. Operating globally, Solvay Peroxides ensures customers a secure and sustainable supply across EMEA, Asia Pacific, and the Americas.

We remind, Solvay is partnering with ENOWA, NEOM’s energy and water company, to establish the world’s first carbon-neutral soda ash production facility in NEOM, Saudi Arabia. Pending the results of an in-depth feasibility study and customary regulatory approvals, Solvay and ENOWA plan to begin operation of the groundbreaking plant by 2030.

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Linde announced it has signed a record number of new small on-site projects during 2023, its fourth consecutive year of growth, said the company.

Linde signed 53 new small on-site projects with capex totaling $270 million for the supply of nitrogen and oxygen during 2023. Small on-site projects use Linde’s proprietary ECOVAR technology, which is designed to be highly efficient, flexible and reliable while helping customers minimize their environmental impact.

The demand for Linde’s NITRONTM on-site nitrogen plants was across multiple sectors, including battery storage for both consumer electronics and electric vehicles. In addition, glass and metals comprised a significant proportion of Linde’s next generation VITRON® on-site oxygen plant projects. Linde’s portfolio of oxy-fuel applications reduces customers’ fuel consumption and emissions, playing a key role in these project wins.

“Linde’s proprietary small on-site technology enables our customers to be more efficient and sustainable across diverse end markets,“ said Sanjiv Lamba, Chief Executive Officer, Linde. “In addition to record small on-site project wins, Linde’s modular multi-plant solutions are popular with customers for enhanced operational flexibility and lower costs.”

We remind, Linde announced it has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for the twenty-first consecutive year. Linde has also been included in the DJSI North America.

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Sasol North America, a subsidiary of the renowned Sasol conglomerate, recently undertook an unexpected shutdown of its olefins production facility located in Lake Charles, said Chemanalyst.

The abrupt halt in operations was necessitated by the adverse impact of freezing temperatures in the region. Commencing on January 15, the company made the decision to suspend the production of key elements such as ethylene, ethylene oxide, propylene, and ethylene glycol, a hiatus expected to extend until the conclusion of the current week. The extreme weather conditions not only disrupted Sasol's industrial operations but also posed challenges to personnel and logistics across the affected region.

This recent episode follows a prior incident where Sasol North America, also a subsidiary of the larger Sasol entity, faced interruptions in its ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol production in Lake Charles, USA. The company had managed to resume production at this facility by March 12, 2021, after experiencing a shutdown triggered by a severe winter storm in mid-February. The Lake Charles plant boasts a substantial annual production capacity of 300 thousand tons of ethylene oxide and 318 thousand tons of ethylene glycol.

Sasol Limited, the parent company based in Johannesburg, South Africa, operates as an integrated energy and chemical enterprise. Established in 1950 in Sasolburg, South Africa, the company has evolved into a prominent player in the production of liquid fuels, chemicals, and electricity.

The unexpected shutdown due to freezing temperatures highlights the vulnerability of industrial operations to adverse weather conditions. Sasol's decision to temporarily halt olefins production underscores the challenges posed by extreme climate events, impacting not only the company's output but also echoing broader concerns about the resilience of industrial infrastructure in the face of environmental factors.

The prior incident in mid-February, where Sasol North America faced disruptions due to a winter storm, emphasizes the recurring nature of weather-related challenges in the region. Despite the resilience displayed in resuming production by March 2021, the recent shutdown serves as a reminder of the ongoing vulnerability of industrial facilities to climatic uncertainties.

Sasol's focus on diverse production, spanning from ethylene and ethylene oxide to propylene and ethylene glycol, reflects its integral role in the supply chain of various industries. The temporary cessation of these operations not only affects Sasol's bottom line but may also have broader implications on the availability of these crucial chemical compounds in the market.

As Sasol North America manages the unscheduled repairs and works towards restoring olefins production to full capacity, the incident prompts a reflection on the broader implications of climate-related disruptions in the industrial sector. It also underscores the need for robust contingency plans and infrastructure resilience measures to mitigate the impact of unforeseen challenges on vital components of the global supply chain.

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MRC -- Abu Dhabi National Oil Co and Austria's OMV are poised to resume talks to agree final terms of a tie-up that would create a chemicals group with more than $20 B in combined annual sales, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Three people with knowledge of the situation said there are still outstanding terms to agree on, with two of them saying that the companies planned to resume talks possibly as soon as this week.

OMV said in July last year it had entered into talks to merge petrochemicals group Borealis - which is owned by OMV and ADNOC in a 75:25 split - and Borouge, which is listed in Abu Dhabi and 54:36 owned by ADNOC and Borealis.

The two sides had been close to agreement, sources told Reuters previously. But a number of sticking points remain, including a provision for job guarantees in Austria, a requirement for a Vienna listing and an Austrian chairman of the new company, two of the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A dual listing in Vienna and the UAE could be an option, a fourth person said. An OMV spokesperson said the two sides were in "ongoing negotiations."

In October, the Austrian company's CEO Alfred Stern said the company would be listed on the stock exchange. A deal is still expected to happen as the obstacles are surmountable, three of the people said.

The terms of the deal would also include a capital infusion to ensure both parties have the same equity share in the new company, Reuters reported in December.

Previously OMV said both Borealis and Borouge would become "equal partners under a jointly controlled, listed platform for potential growth acquisitions to create a global polyolefin company".

OMV is partly state-owned and has Abu Dhabi's Mubadala as its second largest shareholder. Mubadala's shares in OMV will be taken over by ADNOC, as previously announced.

Separately, state-owned ADNOC said on Monday it would allocate $23 B for decarbonization and lower-carbon projects, up from a previous $15-B target.

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