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Category: Industrial

Indonesian nickel shutdown to cut sulphur/acid demand

Four Chinese-operated nickel plants at the Indonesian Morowali Industrial Park have temporarily ceased operations following a fatal landslide in February, in a development that will significantly reduce regional demand for sulphur and sulphuric acid. The shutdowns affect facilities run by China’s GEM Co. and its partners, which together account for 30% of Indonesia’s high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) capacity. The move comes amid heightened regulatory scrutiny. The largest of the four plants, PT QMB New Energy Materials, could remain offline for up to three months.

ACME looking at green methanol

Indian renewables developer ACME says that it will partner with the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Ltd (IPICOL) to set up a green methanol plant in Kendrapada, Odisha state. He proposal is for a 200,000 t/a plant, with ACME taking a stake via its ACME Akaysha Energy subsidiary, part of its green hydrogen business. ACME says that the project forms part of its plans to develop multiple low carbon hydrogen plants and downstream chemical production. The company is planning a large green ammonia facility in Gopalpur through a joint venture with Japan-based IHI Corporation. It is also developing a 2,200 t/d green ammonia project in Paradip with cooperation from the Solar Energy Corporation of India. The output of the facilities will be used both for domestic applications and for export.

SRU commissioned at Petrobrazi refinery

Romanian oil and gas group OMV Petrom has commissioned a new sulphur recovery unit at its Petrobrazi refinery, near the southern city of Ploiesti. Development work on the new SRU began in 2023, and represents the second at the site, treating acid gas produced during the refining process. The euro 45 million investment is part of euro 2 billion of improvements that have been made over the past 20 years as part of the company’s strategy to modernise its refining capabilities, aiming to reduce environmental impact. Last year, the company said it would invest around euro 750 million to build several sustainable fuel plants at the refinery, which are expected to become operational in 2028.