Expansions: Fujian Meide to use Clariant Catofin tech for one of largest PDH units; Worley awarded contract for Borouge 4 project

Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies, and its Swiss catalyst partner Clariant have been awarded a major contract by Fujian Meide to supply Catofin technology and catalysts for a new, world-scale propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit in Fuzhou, China. Already operating one PDH unit at its Fuzhou petrochemical complex, Fujian Meide is now building one of the largest PDH units in the world and has selected the Catofin process and catalysts for the project's second phase. The new unit will produce 900,000 tonnes/year of propylene and is scheduled to commence operation in 2023.

"Our close partnership with Clariant has continued to improve Catofin over the years to the benefit of our customers," said Leon de Bruyn, President/CEO of Lummus Technology. "The process has a proven track record of unmatched productivity, often beyond design capacity (up to 110% on average), giving producers a significantly higher return on investment and more profitable daily operations. This has made it a global leader for propylene production."

"This strategic collaboration exemplifies our dedication to product innovation with ground-breaking chemistry, such as our Heat Generating Material (HGM)," said Stefan Heuser, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Clariant Catalysts. "As a result, HGM, together with new Lummus process technology, reduces energy consumption of the Catofin process by one-third, making it a low-carbon route to propylene production."

The Catofin process combines Lummus' advanced technology with Clariant's tailor-made catalysts and Heat Generating Material (HGM) to convert propane to propylene with unsurpassed reliability. Since its commercial launch in 2017, Catofin has been selected for 34 new projects around the world, representing more than 24,000 kilotonnes/year of new propylene capacity. Over 50% of these plants are located in China.

Fujian Meide Petrochemical Co. is a fully owned subsidiary of Zhongjing Petrochemicals Group, which is headquartered in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China. Specialising in energy, petrochemicals, logistics and packaging, Zhongjing Petrochemicals Group is the largest producer of BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) films in China, with a capacity of 1 million tonnes/year of BOPP and 4 million tonnes/year of PP.

Meanwhile in other news, polyolefins maker Borouge has awarded Australian engineering firm WorleyParsons the project management contract (PMC) for its Ruwais petrochemicals complex. Borouge is a joint venture between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and Borealis.

Under the contract, WorleyParsons will provide PMC services to the fourth phase of the petrochemicals complex. The complex will include the world’s largest mixed feed cracker with an estimated 1.8 million tonnes/year of ethylene output and a production capacity of 3.3 million tonnes/year of olefins and aromatics using a variety of feedstocks such as ethane, butane and naphtha from Adnoc’s refining and gas processing facilities.

WorleyParsons provided services to the pre‐FEED phase following a number of earlier PMC contracts for the Adnoc group.

The Borouge 4 expansion will boost Borouge’s production capacity of polyolefins, including PE and PP, to 6.4 million tonnes/year from its current 5 million tonnes/year capacity, expecting it to be the largest single-site polyolefins complex in the world by 2025.

(PRA)

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