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Sulphur 419 Jul-Aug 2025

16 July 2025

KazZinc to invest in increased SO2 recovery

KAZAKHSTAN

KazZinc to invest in increased SO2 recovery

Kazakhstan Zinc (KazZinc) is progressing with plans to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions from its Ust-Kamenogorsk site following an environmental audit in December 2024 as a result of smogs caused fugitive emissions which forced residents to stay indoors. The site has reduced emissions from 69,000 t/a in 2011 to 15,000 t/a, but plans to invest $210 million in in new technologies, including sulphur dioxide recovery systems and upgraded filters for solid particle capture. The key measure is the modernisation of gas purification units which is expected to reduce SO2 emissions by 2,200 t/a by 2026. Another important initiative is the construction of the “Hydropolimet” workshop at the KazZinc Ridder metallurgical complex, which aims to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions by 714 t/a.

Latest in Asia

CIL to increase BMCC stake

India’s Coromandel International (CIL) is set to increase its stake in phosphate rock producer Baobab Mining and Chemicals Corporation (BMCC) in Senegal further to 71.51% from 53.8%, according to local press reports. CIL is reportedly paying $7.7 million for an additional 17.69% equity stake, after previously raising its stake from 45% in September 2024. CIL originally announced it would take a stake in BMCC in 2022, when it paid $19.6 million for a 45% stake, along with a loan of $9.7 million into BMCC for capital projects and expansion. CIL plans to use the stake to ensure long term supply security of phosphate rock.

Agreement signed for gas separation complex

A formal signing ceremony has been held between senior company executives from KMG PetroChem, Tecnimont and the Kazakh government for the construction of the new Tengiz Gas Separation Complex (GSC) project. The ceremony was held at KMG PetroChem headquarters, in the Atyrau region of Kazakhstan. The Tengiz GSC project’s scope of work includes engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning works, with Tecnimont mainly responsible for the EPC works. Completion is expected by the first quarter of 2029. Once completed, the gas processed by the GSC will feed the Silleno petrochemical plant, another project currently being executed by Tecnimont in the region. The GSC is designed to recover at least 98% of ethane from dry gas, while the Silleno complex is expected to deliver high-quality petrochemical products. KMG PetroChem is a fully owned subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company KazMunayGas.

BADC signs import deals

In addition to the above deal with Morocco, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), part of the Bangladesh Ministry of Agriculture, has signed a contract to import both triple superphosphate (TSP) and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilisers from Malaysia. The agreement was signed on 17 July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur by Mohammed Ruhul Amin Khan, chairman of BADC, and representatives of Selcra Niaga. Under the contract, BADC will import 280,000 tonnes of TSP and 280,000 tonnes of DAP from Malaysia. According to BADC officials, this landmark deal is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring the timely delivery of non-urea fertilisers to farmers. The move aims to strengthen Bangladesh's efforts toward building an efficient and sustainable agricultural system.

Start-up of world’s largest methanol plant

Johnson Matthey (JM) says that the three methanol production trains of Inner Mongolia Baofeng Coal-based New Materials Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group, were successfully commissioned in November 2024, February 2025, and March 2025, respectively. Located in the Wushenqi Sulige Economic Development Zone of Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, this plant employs Johnson Matthey’s advanced methanol synthesis technology and catalysts, making it the largest single methanol plant in the world. Inner Mongolia Baofeng also stands as one of the largest chemical enterprises globally that produces polyethylene and polypropylene by using coal as a substitute for oil.