Skip to main content

Nitrogen+Syngas 399 Jan-Feb 2026

27 January 2026

ASU contract for blue methanol plant

ASU contract for blue methanol plant

Air Water Gas Solutions, a subsidiary of Air Water America, will build an air separation unit to support the production of 1.1 million t/a of blue methanol at Sandpiper Chemicals’ blue methanol facility in the US. The low carbon methanol producer has contracted Air Water to design, build, and operate the ASU to provide oxygen, nitrogen, and instrument air for blue methanol production. The project is still at the pre-final investment decision (FID) stage, with production targeted for 2030.

Sandpiper Chemicals’ plant will also feature SynCOR autothermal reforming technology, developed by technology and solutions company Topsoe. The plant is expected to reform natural gas into hydrogen-rich syngas, capture much of the CO2, and use the hydrogen in that syngas to produce blue methanol.

Latest in Industrial

Zambia implements sulphuric acid export permits

The Zambian government has introduced a new permit system to manage the export of sulphuric acid, which came into effect on 27 March, 2026, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry. The move comes at a time of significant exceptionally high prices and sourcing challenges in the global sulphur market, adding another layer of tightness for regional consumers. The Ministry stated that the measure is designed to correct a "critical market imbalance" and ensure supply for the country's domestic industries. The system aims to safeguard local downstream sectors that rely on the acid, while still ensuring that the needs of the export market are met, it said.