SAUDI ARAMCO
Acquisition of “Converge” CO2-to-polyols technology from Novomer / Part of “Saudi Vision 2030” diversification and job creation drive / More sustainability
With the just-announced acquisition of the “Converge” polyols production technology of Novomer (Waltham, Massachusetts / USA; www.novomer.com) for “up to USD 100m,” Saudi Aramco (Dhahran / Saudi Arabia; www.saudiaramco.com) continues to dig deeper roots into the plastics and rubber sectors. In the recent past, the oil and petrochemicals giant has increasingly proved it is a force to be reckoned with downstream, having completed the mammoth Sadara project with US giant Dow Chemical (Midland, Michigan; www.dow.com) and bought half of the synthetic rubber business of Germany’s Lanxess (Cologne; www.lanxess.com) – see Plasteurope.com of 15.04.2016.
Saudi Aramco’s latest move, which it said will cement its position as a technology leader, is designed to help meet the targets of the “Saudi Vision 2030” diversification and job creation drive spearheaded by deputy crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud. Through its Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures (SAEV) subsidiary, the group in 2013 invested an unquantified sum in the development and commercialisation of the technology being pursued by Novomer, which started its work with a USD 25m grant from the US Department of Energy – see Plasteurope.com of 27.02.2013. The process was scaled up with the help of US fine chemicals producer Albemarle (Baton Rouge, Louisiana; www.albemarle.com).
The Novomer technology is used to produce polypropylene carbonate (PPC) polyols from waste CO2 for use in higher-end coating, adhesive, sealant and elastomer applications, with flexible and rigid polyurethane foam at the forefront. Saudi Aramco said it will manufacture and market the polyols containing up to 50% CO2 by mass along with “associated products,” using a proprietary catalyst and drawing on its “abundant hydrocarbon feedstocks.” The products are claimed to have about a third of the carbon footprint of conventional polycarbonate polyols.
Abdulaziz Al-Judaimi, Saudi Aramco’s acting senior vice president of downstream, said the acquisition “reflects the success of Saudi Aramco’s efforts to continuously seek the best possible opportunity for the commercialisation of specific downstream technologies on a large-scale.” By providing access to reliable feedstock supplies, financial stability and “unrivalled R&D investment and focus,” he said the Middle East group will help spur growth in the production of more sustainable finished and semi-finished products in the Saudi petrochemicals conversion sector. CEO Amin H. Nasser noted that “some of Saudi Aramco’s most significant achievements in recent years have been in developing new international partnerships in the downstream space.”
A number of international plastics industry players are working on the development and production of more sustainable polyols, derived from CO2 feedstocks. In June of this year, Covestro (Leverkusen / Germany; www.covestro.com), the former Bayer MaterialScience, started industrial production of polyether polycarbonate polyols made from 20% carbon dioxide feedstock in its 5,000 t/y plant at Dormagen / Germany – see Plasteurope.com of 21.06.2016.
Saudi Aramco’s latest move, which it said will cement its position as a technology leader, is designed to help meet the targets of the “Saudi Vision 2030” diversification and job creation drive spearheaded by deputy crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud. Through its Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures (SAEV) subsidiary, the group in 2013 invested an unquantified sum in the development and commercialisation of the technology being pursued by Novomer, which started its work with a USD 25m grant from the US Department of Energy – see Plasteurope.com of 27.02.2013. The process was scaled up with the help of US fine chemicals producer Albemarle (Baton Rouge, Louisiana; www.albemarle.com).
The Novomer technology is used to produce polypropylene carbonate (PPC) polyols from waste CO2 for use in higher-end coating, adhesive, sealant and elastomer applications, with flexible and rigid polyurethane foam at the forefront. Saudi Aramco said it will manufacture and market the polyols containing up to 50% CO2 by mass along with “associated products,” using a proprietary catalyst and drawing on its “abundant hydrocarbon feedstocks.” The products are claimed to have about a third of the carbon footprint of conventional polycarbonate polyols.
Abdulaziz Al-Judaimi, Saudi Aramco’s acting senior vice president of downstream, said the acquisition “reflects the success of Saudi Aramco’s efforts to continuously seek the best possible opportunity for the commercialisation of specific downstream technologies on a large-scale.” By providing access to reliable feedstock supplies, financial stability and “unrivalled R&D investment and focus,” he said the Middle East group will help spur growth in the production of more sustainable finished and semi-finished products in the Saudi petrochemicals conversion sector. CEO Amin H. Nasser noted that “some of Saudi Aramco’s most significant achievements in recent years have been in developing new international partnerships in the downstream space.”
A number of international plastics industry players are working on the development and production of more sustainable polyols, derived from CO2 feedstocks. In June of this year, Covestro (Leverkusen / Germany; www.covestro.com), the former Bayer MaterialScience, started industrial production of polyether polycarbonate polyols made from 20% carbon dioxide feedstock in its 5,000 t/y plant at Dormagen / Germany – see Plasteurope.com of 21.06.2016.
09.11.2016 Plasteurope.com [235494-0]
Published on 09.11.2016