Boca del Río will have the first catalyst production plant in Mexico

The Mexican Petroleum Institute (IMP), within the framework of its 58th anniversary, began work on the first catalyst production plant in the country that will serve the national system of refining, in a banner headed by the governor Cuitlahuac Garcia Jimenez in the Center of Technologies for Exploration and Production of this city, said Bnamericas.

"After the recent decades in which we suffered a disdain for Mexico's energy sovereignty, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador returns to the right path: if we want an economically independent nation, there must be a development engine with its own resources, without depending on international instances and foreign companies”, pointed out the president.

In one year, the catalysts will stop being imported and the generation capacity will be 891 tons, after an investment of 563 million pesos and the work of almost a thousand people in the construction stage; "Excellent news for Veracruz, which has an architect: the Secretary of Energy, Rocio Nahle Garcia."

In turn, the public servant emphasized that for 60 years Mexico has never manufactured these inputs that serve to accelerate chemical processes, which is why Petroleos Mexicanos spends up to 80 million dollars annually on their acquisition, despite having the IMP patent.

He stressed that the institution has 100 high-level laboratories and the different types of catalysts will be made from precious minerals, necessary in the six rehabilitated refineries, the new one in Dos Bocas and the external one in Deer Park, for which "history Oil and transformation in Mexico cannot be written without the presence of Veracruz".

In his message, the general director of the IMP, Marco Antonio Osorio Bonilla, considered that the location in Boca del Rio is strategic to meet the requirements of the refining system, while announcing the start-up of a technological cluster in the same plant that will mark a before and after in the petrochemical industry.

We remind, ORLEN and Yokogawa Europe, the regional headquarters for Japan’s Yokogawa Electric Corporation, announce they have joined forces to initiate industrial-scale production of carbon neutral synthetic aviation fuels. In a landmark Memorandum of Understanding signed on September 21, the two companies have come together to enhance the technological process responsible for synthesizing fuel from carbon dioxide and green hydrogen. ORLEN is looking to establish itself as a frontrunner in this emerging market segment, poised to drive effective decarbonization of the aviation industry.

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Safic-Alcan Distribution Agreement LANXESS Biocides FranceSafic-Alcan announces an extended distribution agreement with LANXESS for Rocima™, Kathon™, Bioban™ and other biocides in France, following LANXESS' acquisition of IFF Microbial Control (MC), said Coatings.specialchem.

The strategic partnership strengthens and complements the portfolio, which for many years has included the well-known Preventol® range developed by the same company. Rocima™, Kathon™, Bioban™ and other biocides are widely used in various industrial applications, such as paints, varnishes, the construction market, wood protection and the leather market.

With technical expertise and strong regulatory knowledge, Safic-Alcan is positioned to provide support and solutions tailored to the customers' specific needs.

“Our increasing collaboration with Safic-Alcan will even better serve our customers by providing them with dedicated technical and regulatory expertise of an immense portfolio, helping them to face potential future biocides restrictions,” said Pierre Guyot, sales and key account manager Biocides, LANXESS.

“This partnership reinforces our commitment to offering superior solutions to our customers, while expanding our product range to meet their diverse needs. We look forward to working closely with our customers to ensure their satisfaction and success,” said Rudy Sprumont, business unit director CASE, Safic-Alcan.

We remind, LANXESS has launched a more sustainable solution for its plasticizer Mesamoll, said Specialchem.
The phthalate-free, well-gelling and exceptionally saponification-resistant plasticizer can be applied to a wide range of polymers, such as PVC, PUR and rubber.

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The ethanol and corn industries on Thursday slammed an advisory board to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a draft report that found there could be little climate benefit to using corn-starch ethanol as a fuel, compared with gasoline, said Reuters.

The question of exactly how much ethanol cuts emissions over gasoline has divided academics and has created a split in the administration of President Joe Biden over implementation of a tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel.

A working group of the EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) concluded in an August draft report that there is "a reasonable chance there are minimal or no climate benefits from substituting corn ethanol for gasoline or diesel."

At a public meeting in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, the full SAB discussed the report and took public comments, including from industry groups.

"We adamantly disagree," said Geoff Cooper, CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, citing findings by the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory that ethanol is 44% lower in emissions than gasoline. "We encourage the SAB to conduct a more expansive and inclusive examination."

Chris Bliley, senior vice president of regulatory affairs at Growth Energy, a biofuels lobby group, said the draft comment "cherry picks certain data from a few anti-ethanol critics." Neil Caskey, CEO of the National Corn Growers Association, said the science showing ethanol's climate benefits over gasoline is settled.

Members of the SAB working group said new studies suggest ethanol may be less climate-friendly than previously thought and EPA should conduct further research. "This is not a settled issue in my mind," said Peter Thorne, professor of public health at the University of Iowa and a member of the working group.

The full board voted to accept the draft report pending revisions. Some suggested revisions included softening the report's language and clarifying specific uncertainties in the scientific literature.

We remind, The European Union is set to demand that cars running on e-fuels must be 100% carbon neutral if they are to be sold beyond 2035, a draft document showed, after Germany demanded e-fuel cars be exempted from the phase-out of new polluting vehicles. All new cars sold in the EU from 2035 must have zero CO2 emissions, under the EU's main climate policy for cars, which countries agreed earlier this year.

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MRC) -- The International Council of Chemical Associations, representing more than 90 percent of global chemical sales, announce the launch of three high-level ambitions on the sound management of chemicals and waste ahead of an upcoming key UN conference that will define the future of “Beyond 2020 Instrument”, the global UN-led policy framework to promote chemical safety around the world, said Cefic.

“ICCA has long been a strong supporter and contributor to the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management and the industry has achieved significant progress in building capacity on safe chemicals management in developing countries over the past years. Yet we know that more needs to be done to ensure that all people enjoy the same high standards of chemical safety, regardless of where they live. Our high-level ambition will show, through action, that we will continue to be a willing partner with all stakeholders to the advancement of the new framework’s objectives.”

Chris Jahn, the ICCA Secretariat and President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council added “the launch of the three ambitions is not the end, it is a new start. As we move forward, we will be setting goals for each ambition to keep industry on track, and will actively engage with the governments, NGOs and other stakeholders as we are taking action. This cannot be done by industry alone and we look forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the work done is thoughtful and efficient.”

Beyond the ambitions, ICCA members will continue to engage in and support the sound management of chemicals and waste and the adoption of the new framework at the upcoming International Conference of Chemicals Management.

We remind, ORLEN and Yokogawa Europe, the regional headquarters for Japan’s Yokogawa Electric Corporation, announce they have joined forces to initiate industrial-scale production of carbon neutral synthetic aviation fuels.
In a landmark Memorandum of Understanding signed on September 21, the two companies have come together to enhance the technological process responsible for synthesizing fuel from carbon dioxide and green hydrogen. ORLEN is looking to establish itself as a frontrunner in this emerging market segment, poised to drive effective decarbonization of the aviation industry.

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Maire Tecnimont SpA’s (Milan) project development subsidiary MET Development (MetDev) has agreed to collaborate with Macquarie Capital to establish a new company aimed at developing, constructing and operating energy transition projects in Italy and Europe, said Reuters.

The new entity is expected to focus on sectors ranging from the chemical recycling of waste and the production of sustainable fuels and hydrogen, to green and low-carbon hydrogen and CO2 capture projects, including fertilizers, it said.

The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together toward launching the new platform, which would see Macquarie Capital hold an 80% stake and MetDev the remaining 20%.

The new company would combine Maire Tecnimont’s energy-transition projects experience with Macquarie Capital’s sectoral expertise, it said. Macquarie’s parent company, Macquarie Group Ltd. (London), is a major investor and advisor in the infrastructure and renewable energy sectors, according to Maire Tecnimont. “With more than 100 GW of renewable energy projects, it has a strong track record of working with stakeholders in the public and private sectors to support and scale energy transition solutions,” it said.

Maire Tecnimont said the new company would also “significantly boost” the implementation of its 10-year growth plan, which aims to leverage an integrated approach through the combination of sustainable technologies via its NextChem business, together with its engineering and construction (E&C) solutions capabilities.

Projects undertaken by the new company are likely to be based on a nonrecourse capital structure, relying upon secured long-term supply contracts and offtake agreements, with Maire Tecnimont to act as technology provider and E&C contractor. The company will leverage Macquarie’s expertise in developing, financing and managing infrastructure and energy assets, it said.

We remind, MAIRE S.p.A. announces that its Integrated E&C Solutions (IE&CS) and Sustainable Technology Solutions (STS) subsidiaries have been awarded new contracts for an overall value of approximately USD260 MM by international clients mainly in Europe, Asia and South America.

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