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Author: richardhands

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.

Jilin Electric Power commissions green ammonia plant

Jilin Electric Power says that it has commissioned one of the world’s largest green hydrogen and ammonia plants in Jilin Province. Jilin says that this is the world’s largest operating green ammonia plant, with a capacity of up to 32,000 t/a of green hydrogen and 180,000 t/a of green ammonia; the largest combined PEM and alkaline electrolyser system, combining 196 MW of alkaline electrolysis and 52 MW of PEM electrolysis, respectively; and the world’s largest block of solid-state hydrogen storage - 48,000 Nm3. The plant is fed by 800 MW of installed renewable power. The green ammonia is EU-certified under low-carbon fuel standards, and offtake agreements are in place with companies located in Europe, Japan and South Korea.

Partnership for sustainable energy solutions

Clariant has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Shanghai Boiler Works, a full subsidiary of Shanghai Electric specialising in energy conversion and the development of new energy applications, to jointly foster innovation in sustainable energy solutions. The partners will combine their expertise to advance green energy projects in China. The agreement is the result of close and successful cooperation in Shanghai Electric’s new biomass-to-green methanol plant in Taonan, Jilin Province, China. In addition to supplying its MegaMax catalysts, Clariant provided technical on-site support during the successful startup of the 50,000 t/a plant. The second phase of the project, with a capacity of 200,000 t/a green methanol and 10,000 t/a of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), is expected to start production in 2027. The ceremony for the official signing of the partnership contract took place last week at the Clariant Innovation Center in Frankfurt, Germany.

Nitrogen dioxide release caused by loading error

An explosion at the FrieslandCampina site in Borculo in July 2025 this year was reportedly caused by an error in the discharge of hydrochloric acid. The explosion released a mix of chlorine gas and nitrogen oxides. A truck driver reported to the wrong unloading point at the dairy company in Gelderland on 4th. Both the driver and a factory employee failed to properly check the cargo’s paperwork, resulting in the hydrochloric acid being unloaded into a nitric acid tank. Furthermore, an incorrect coupling was used during the unloading process, the company reported after its own investigation. An orange cloud containing chlorine gas and nitrogen dioxide was released and spread throughout the surrounding area. Around 21:00, the site was evacuated and the fire department was alerted. At 22:13, the tank exploded. The tank lid was later found in a meadow near the factory.

Contract awarded for large scale green ammonia plant

Saudi power group ACWA Power has awarded a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract to a consortium of Spanish engineering firm Tecnicas Reunidas and Sinopec Guangzhou Engineering for the development of a large green hydrogen and ammonia project in Yanbu. The project would include 4 GW of electrolysis capacity, enabling the production of 400,000 t/a of green hydrogen, which will then be converted into green ammonia for export. The plant’s scope also includes water desalination infrastructure and an export terminal to support global distribution, though renewable generation assets are excluded from the current design phase.

Funding for green hydrogen plant

Linde has received a e4.3 million ($4.7 million) funding commitment to build a new 5MW alkaline electrolysis plant in Leuna, Saxony-Anhalt, adding to the region’s growing hydrogen infrastructure. The project, which complements Linde’s existing 24 MW facility, is scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2026 and is expected to produce 450 t/a of green hydrogen for local industrial customers via pipeline distribution. The funding was formally awarded on August 13 by Saxony-Anhalt’s Economics Minister Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann, backed by the state’s “Future Energy” programme and the EU’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Yara seeking permit for rail transport of ammonia

Yara has applied for a new environmental permit in order to be able to import 275,000 t/a of ammonia by rail to its site at Tertre in the Saint-Ghislain municipality. The permit will cover ammonia to continue to operate downstream nitric acid and ammonium nitrate production at Tertre following the closure of the site’s 400,000 t/a ammonia plant. A public inquiry into the permit is expected to be completed in early September 2025. Yara says that train traffic to the site will increase to around 5 trains per week if the permit is granted.