Section: CRUNS Industry News

World Energy GH2 has shelved its 1.2 GW green hydrogen and ammonia project in Stephenville, Newfoundland, after failing to secure offtake agreements. Project Nujio’qonik was conceived as a major green hydrogen/ammonia scheme backed by 2 GW of new wind capacity, intended to export green ammonia to Europe. However, despite a $50 million investment from South Korea’s SK Eco-plant and high-profile endorsement by then German chancellor Olaf Scholz, the developer has confirmed that the project is being replaced by a new initiative, called Clean Grid Atlantic, which will use the wind resource to power domestic markets instead.

Johnson Matthey (JM) has officially opened its first hydrogen internal combustion engine facility, where emission control systems will be tested. Hydrogen internal combustion engines use zero carbon hydrogen fuel in tried-and-tested engine technology, presenting a viable path for decarbonising medium and heavy-duty transport, such as trucks and buses.

Spain’s Methanol Reformer has signed a sales and purchase agreement with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. (MGC) for the supply of an L18 methanol reformer compliant with Japanese industry requirements. The system will be delivered and installed at MGC’s Niigata plant, with commissioning planned for the second half of 2026. Methanol Reformer says that this, their first industrial project in Japan, reinforces the company’s presence in the Asian market, while for MGC, the collaboration supports the adoption of innovative hydrogen-generation solutions designed to enhance operational applicability and efficiency with reliability.

Clariant says it is collaborating in Repsol’s pioneering methanol plant in El Morell near Tarragona, Spain. The Ecoplanta project will be the first of its kind in Europe to convert municipal waste into renewable methanol, using Enerkem’s advanced waste gasification process, supported by a range of Clariant’s syngas purification catalysts and its highly active MegaMax methanol synthesis catalysts. Scheduled for completion in 2029, the plant will use 400,000 t/a of non-recyclable solid municipal waste to produce 240,000 t/a of methanol.

BASF and OCI Global have agreed for the first deliveries of renewable ammonia produced at BASF’s site in Ludwigshafen in order to produce low-carbon fertilizers at OCI’s site in Geleen. This initiative expands OCI’s low-carbon portfolio and introduces the “Pure” product line, delivering the same fertilizer quality at a substantially reduced carbon footprint without compromising on performance. BASF says that its renewable ammonia is certified according to ISCC PLUS and is produced using a mass balance approach, through which renewable energy-derived hydrogen is attributed to the renewable ammonia grades.

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.

Maire Group says that, in relation to its ongoing dispute with Russian EuroChem Group, its subsidiary Tecnimont has obtained immediately enforceable orders for conservatory measures to freeze assets of EuroChem Group for an amount of approximately €1.1 billion. These measures are based on the leave granted to Tecnimont by the ICC Arbitral Tribunal seated in London, to seize EuroChem’s assets in every country, totalling €1.1 billion. Further seizure requests are underway in several jurisdictions. The Arbitral Tribunal has also found that Tecnimont is entitled to apply to judicial authorities to obtain asset freeze measures against EuroChem Group’s assets worldwide, by way of security for the further potential damages caused by EuroChem Group’s recent unlawful legal actions undertaken in Russia.

Alfa Laval Korea Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hanwha Ocean Ecotech, marking a significant step toward strengthening cooperation in developing safe and reliable ammonia fuel system solutions for dual-fuel vessels. The collaboration is founded on a shared ambition to advance ammonia fuel systems for dual-fuel vessels. Alfa Laval will contribute its proven capabilities in ammonia fuel and mitigation technologies through ammonia fuel supply system and FSS and ammonia release mitigation system (ARMS) and Hanwha will apply its extensive experience in system engineering and integration. This partnership will facilitate the exchange of expertise and improve productivity and safety on board.

Nel ASA says that it has entered into an agreement with GreenH to be the technology provider for the Enova-supported projects in Kristiansund and Slagentangen. GreenH develops, builds, owns, and operates hydrogen production facilities based on renewable energy. The company aims to establish a network of distributed hydrogen production sites to enable decarbonisation in the maritime, transport, and industrial sectors. GreenH focuses on scalable solutions located close to end users, reducing logistics costs and supporting the development of efficient, regional hydrogen value chains. The facilities in Kristiansund and Slagentangen are intended to supply green hydrogen to industrial and maritime users and form part of GreenH’s broader efforts to establish a network of distributed hydrogen production in Norway.

KBR has been awarded a contract for its PureM green methanol technology by Fikrat Al-Tadweer for a biomethanol plant in Saudi Arabia which will convert landfill gas into clean fuels. KBR’s technology is designed for commercial-scale deployment with a low cost of renewable methanol production, and can utilise a wide range of feedstocks, including biogas, gasification-derived syngas, hydrogen, and pure CO2 , enabling flexibility and efficiency. Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide technology licensing, proprietary engineering design, catalyst, and proprietary equipment for the biomethanol facility.