Mitsubishi Gas Chemical started a methanol demonstration plant using industrial gases and carbon dioxide at its Mizushima site, according to project news reported in the week to 28 October. The facility is part of the company's Carbopath methanol initiative.
Using CO2 and industrial gases as feedstock, the demonstration aims to validate a lower-carbon route to methanol, a key chemical intermediate and fuel. Methanol is used in formaldehyde, acetic acid, olefins and fuel blending applications.
In the same period, KBR won contracts to revamp ammonia plants operated by AGF Nitrogen in Germany and Austria, covering SKW Piesteritz's Wittenberg Ammonia Plant 2 efficiency revamp and LAT Nitrogen's Linz Ammonia Plant No. 2 KRES revamp, both announced on 22 October.
Linde expanded industrial gas supply to Tata Steel at Kalinganagar through air separation unit work, and Aluminerie Alouette secured $28.5 million from the Strategic Response Fund for its Sept-Îles modernisation and decarbonisation.
PetroChina's 1.2 million t/y Tarim ethylene plant started up, while BASF's Cincinnati alkyl polyglucosides expansion began operating on 27 October.
