Skip to main content

Sulphur 419 Jul-Aug 2025

16 July 2025

Topsoe technology chosen for Chinese SAF plants

Topsoe technology chosen for Chinese SAF plants

Topsoe has been selected by Zhongneng Yida New Energy Co., Ltd to deliver technology for production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) at a new facility to be located at the city of Shijazhuang in the Shenze Economy Development Zone of Hebei province. Zhongneng Yida plans to export the produced SAF to European and local Chinese markets. Topsoe will provide its HydroFlex® technology and catalysts as part of the agreement. The facility will produce 400,000 t/a of SAF, utilising used cooking oil for the feedstock.

Yin Feng, President of Zhongneng Yida, said: “Shenze’s policy advantages, location advantages and environmental advantages are increasingly prominent. Driven by the global ‘carbon peak, carbon neutral’ background, bioenergy as a strategic fulcrum of national energy layout has become Shenze County’s future development of the leading industry.”

Zhongneng Yida expects to start construction in the third quarter of 2025 with operations to commence in first half year of 2027. It is expected the facility will initially export to the European market, with plans to also target the local market in China.

Topsoe has also been selected by Zhejiang Jianglan Bio-Energy Technology Co. Ltd to deliver technology and services for SAF production. Once fully operational, the plant is set to produce 300,000 t/a of SAF which will initially be exported to European markets. Construction is expected to start in September 2025, with operations expected to commence in December 2026. The project is located in Zhoushan City in the eastern province of Zhejiang, China, and will also use Topsoe’s HydroFlex® technology, licensing, technical expertise and engineering services as well as its proprietary catalysts for SAF production.

Latest in Asia

Manyar smelter faces supply issues

Freeport Indonesia may be forced to suspend operations at its Manyar smelter at the end of October due to a lack of copper concentrate, according to local press reports. The news follows the mudslide at the Grasberg mine in September, which killed seven workers. Grasberg, which represents almost 3% of global copper mine production, has halted production and Freeport says that it may not return to pre-accident operating rates until 2027. Stocks of copper concentrate at Grasberg were estimated to be only sufficient to operate the Manyar smelter until the end of October. The $3.7 billion Manyar smelter only resumed operations in May after a fire broke out in October last year, damaging the plant.

Government to limit new nickel projects

The Indonesian government has moved to limit new licenses for nickel projects in an attempt to correct overdevelopment of the industry and the subsequent crash in global nickel prices. The permit restriction applies to new nickel processing companies that produce intermediate products, both with pyrometallurgical (RKEF) and hydrometallurgical (HPAL) technologies. Currently, Indonesia already has 54 nickel processing plants operating, 38 in the construction stage, and 45 are still under planning.

Paradeep plans additional phosphoric acid capacity

Paradeep Phosphates Ltd (PPL) has announced a $400 million capacity expansion program, following its October 13th merger with Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited (MCFL). This company says that the move aims to strengthen PPL's market position and enhance its production capabilities. The investment will involve increasing granulation capacity by 1.0 million t/a at the Paradeep site, as well as an additional 250,000 t/a of phosphoric acid and 750,000 t/a of sulphuric acid capacity at the company’s new Mangalore site. The expansion is expected to be completed within three years, according to PPL, and is expected to ensure 100% backward integration for fertilizer production, reduce import dependency, and enhance operational capabilities and profitability. low-contaminant phosphate concentrate that allows for easy conversion into purified phosphoric acid. The company has spent over C$100 million advancing the project and has received funding and investment from the Quebec Government.

METI funds hydrogen for steel and ammonia production

As part of the Japanese government’s Green Transformation scheme, two hydrogen producers have been selected to receive subsidies for low-carbon production projects. Out of the overall $1 trillion GX scheme, $51 billion is earmarked for hydrogen and ammonia investments, with the bulk going towards a long-term programme that subsidises the increased production costs. The first two recipients are a Toyota Tshuho-led consortium (electrolytic hydrogen for steel), and Resonac (hydrogen from used plastics for ammonia). In the programme, production projects are required to have the support of a major hydrogen consumer – in Resonac’s case, this is Japanese chemicals giant Nippon Shokubai, who will offtake the ammonia produced from lower-carbon hydrogen.