The Maersk shipping family are funding a new company producing fossil-free plastics from green methanol. Launched by Maersk’s holding company AP Moller Holding and headed by chemicals executives, Vioneo plans to spend €1.5bn (US$1.64bn) building a 300,000 t/y plant in Belgium that could start operations in 2028.
The technologies it will use to convert methanol into polyethylene and polypropylene – two of the world’s most common plastics – have not been divulged. The company has only said that its plastics production plant will use well-known and well-proven technologies. And that it will reduce fossil input by powering its facilities using renewables and buying methanol made only from biogenic CO2.
The company’s new chair, Jan Secher, said: “Vioneo wants to drive the transition of the plastics industry by demonstrating that plastics can be made economically at scale without fossil raw materials. The initiative offers a major opportunity for Europe to lead in defossilising the €5trn global chemicals and materials sector, securing Europe a leading position in the transition, in a sector that today suffers from lack of investment and innovation, as well as higher comparable costs.”
The company says its plastics will be 100% fossil-free and suitable for use in packaging, medical devices, and cars.
The front end engineering and design (FEED) of the plant will begin later this year with a final investment decision expected in 2025. The plant could start production in Antwerp in 2028, but Vioneo has warned that investment will hinge on changes in policy to support greener plastics production and a reduction in energy costs.
Sechar said: “Our objective is to build a platform that can demonstrate that the reliance on fossil-based materials within the polymer and chemical industries can be gradually phased out. However, we cannot achieve this on our own. Success hinges on the commitment of customers, partners, support from policymakers through regulatory frameworks, and access to low-cost green energy and financial backing.”
The Financial Times notes it will also need to source 800,000 t/y of green methanol to feed the plant. According to data from the Methanol Institute there is currently just 16,500 t/y of bio-based methanol being produced in mainland Europe by BASF at its Ludwigshafen plant in Germany. Another four plants, all in the Netherlands, are planned to start operations by 2028 with a combined output of 847,500 t of biomethanol. It cautions that just 24–48% of the world’s planned renewable methanol production – equal to 7–14m t/y – will make it all the way through to construction by 2030.
If successful, the company said it plans on replicating its plastics production plant in other key markets.
Alex Hogan has been appointed CEO of Vioneo. He was previously business director at INEOS Olefins and Polymers. Sechar was previously CEO of Clariant and Petronas Chemicals subsidiary Perstorp Group.
The plant would be built at Vopak Energy Park in Antwerp. Antwerp is Europe’s largest integrated chemicals cluster. The company estimates that producing plastics using green methanol will save 1.5m t/y of emissions and that the new plant will create 250 permanent jobs.
by Adam Duckett
Source: thechemicalengineer.com
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