The downstream run down: In case you missed it 3/18
In case you missed any downstream news, this piece will give you a summary of some of the top stories from last week.
Sulzer Chemtech to provide its BioFlux technology for renewable energy complex
Sulzer Chemtech will provide a BioFlux technology package to support the creation of the Sabah Maju Jaya Renewable Energy Industrial Complex in Malaysia. This new facility will produce sustainable fuels with limited GHG emissions by using locally sourced, renewable feedstock.
By leveraging Sulzer Chemtech’s technology, the new plant located at Sapangar Bay, Kota Kinabalu, will have a production capacity of 250,000 tpy.
Vandelay Ventures has preselected Sulzer Chemtech (GTC Technology) to be the preferred process technology provider for the main processes at the 10,000 m2 processing complex. This will utilize plant-based oils to produce sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel and renewable naphtha as a byproduct.
Shell faces $400-MM writedown on Russian downstream assets
Shell faces writedowns on $400 MM in Russian downstream assets, it said, having announced $3 B worth of other projects previously. The oil major announced on Feb. 28 that it would quit its ventures in Russia with Gazprom and related entities including the flagship Sakhalin 2 LNG plant and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project.
Nigeria's airlines may not survive jet fuel price rise
Nigerian domestic airlines may not survive the next few days if jet fuel prices keep rising, operators told a committee of parliament on Thursday, a day after saying fuel shortages were disrupting flights.
Allen Onyeama, chairman of Air Peace Airline, who spoke on behalf of Airlines Operators of Nigeria, said airlines were now buying fuel at 670 naira ($1.61) a liter, up from 190 at the end of last year.
Ansaldo Energia, Energy Dome ink energy storage agreement
Ansaldo Energia, Ansaldo GreenTech and Energy Dome signed the license agreement for the use by Ansaldo Energia of the energy storage technology owned by Energy Dome, based on the compression and expansion of CO2.
This is the first license agreement between Energy Dome and an EPC/OEM internationally renowned company, which will allow Ansaldo Energia to commercialize the CO2 battery in core markets where the company, leader in power generation and key player of the energy transition, has a historic commercial presence. The agreement also foresees the marketing license of energy transition combined cycle (ETCC) technology in combination with gas turbines. The two companies intend to start construction of the first ETCC and CO2 battery commercial plants by the beginning of 2023. Ansaldo Energia will provide the turnkey EPC, including performance guarantees, based on the front-end engineering design developed by Energy Dome.
BASF releases a new fluid catalytic cracking catalyst
BASF launched a new fluid catalytic cracking catalyst designed to maximize butylenes from resid feedstocks. Fourtitude, the latest product based on BASF’s multiple framework topology (MFT) technology, is optimized to deliver superior selectivity to butylenes while maintaining catalyst activity. MFT technology enhances performance using more than one framework topology working together to tailor the catalyst selectivity profile.
SABIC collaborates with Kraton for certified renewable butadiene
SABIC has announced a new collaboration with Kraton to deliver certified renewable butadiene from its TRUCIRCLE portfolio for use in Kraton’s certified renewable styrenic block copolymers. This effort forms part of SABIC’s 2025 strategy, which includes a sustainability development goal roadmap spanning the organization’s entire value chain and addressing 10 goals to help drive meaningful sustainable change.
ABB to automate bioplastics plant
ABB has been awarded a major contract by NatureWorks to automate their new, greenfield plant in Thailand, converting sugar cane to the polylactic acid biopolymer, Ingeo.
The plant will ferment and distill plant-based sugars—in a process similar to making beer or wine—converting the sugars first to lactic acid, then lactide and then polymerize them into Ingeo. In the new site, these three separate production processes will be fully integrated, resulting in improvements in energy and production efficiency.
Aemetis to supply Qantas with 35 MMg of SAF
Aemetis announced that an offtake agreement has been signed with Qantas Group and Qantas Airlines for 35 MMg of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to be delivered over the 7-year term of the agreement. The value of the contract including incentives is approximately $250 MM.
SAF provides significant environmental benefits compared to petroleum jet fuel, including a lower lifecycle carbon footprint and reduced contrails. The blended SAF to be supplied under this agreement is 40% SAF and 60% Petroleum Jet A to meet international blending standards.
CIMC Enric, Maersk to collaborate on biomass green methanol project
CIMC Enric and its subsidiaries have announced a strategic partnership with Maersk to launch a biomass green methanol pilot project. The project will facilitate the landing of Maersk's first generation of green container vessels. The two sides have signed a MoU online to explore long-term cooperation in the clean energy field with a focus on green methanol.
RefiPampa contracts Elessent for hydroprocessing technology
RefiPampa has signed agreements with Elessent Clean Technologies (Elessent) for the license and basic engineering of a new IsoTherming diesel hydrotreating and dewaxing unit. The grassroots hydrotreater will be installed at the RefiPampa facility in La Pampa, Argentina. To comply with the latest fuel specifications in Argentina to meet Grade 3 diesel specifications by 2024, RefiPampa commissioned Elessent for an IsoTherming diesel hydrotreating and dewaxing unit with a target capacity of 62.6 m3/hr (9,450 bpd).
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