PROCESS Worldwide brings to you the ‘Top 10 plant engineering projects of April 2026’ from all over the world. Right from BASF inaugurating a 8.7 billion euro Verbund site in China to Fluor Corporation securing a contract for USA’s first new refinery, find out all the projects making headlines here.
At a glance: Plant engineering projects from across the globe.
BASF Inaugurates 8.7 Billion Euro Verbund Site in China
Aerial view of the BASF production site in Zhanjiang, China.
(Source: BASF)
April 2 – BASF recently celebrated the official inauguration of its newly built, world-scale Verbund site in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province in southern China. Covering an area of around four square kilometers, it is more than a major BASF project in the chemical growth market of China. “Zhanjiang shows what the future of chemistry looks like: efficient, digital and sustainable by design. The site showcases a smart integrated Verbund structure on an industrial scale,” said Dr. Markus Kamieth, CEO of BASF, at the ceremony attended by representatives from government, customers, business partners and employees.
At the Zhanjiang site, BASF employs over 2,000 people and will produce a diversified portfolio that includes basic chemicals, intermediates and specialty chemicals for the transportation, consumer goods, electronics, home care and personal care industries.
The majority of the products manufactured in Zhanjiang will directly serve customers in China, fully aligning with BASF’s global “local for local” approach. The project was completed on schedule and well below the original budget, with an investment of around 8.7 billion euros.
By using Verbund integration, process innovations and renewable energy, CO₂ emissions at the site can be reduced by up to 50 percent compared with a conventional petrochemical site. Long-term green power purchase agreements and investments in an offshore wind farm enable the site’s electricity supply to be 100 percent renewable.
The Zhanjiang integrated site is BASF’s seventh Verbund site worldwide and the third largest after Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Antwerp, Belgium. It will be operated solely under BASF’s responsibility.
Energy X Commissions Largest DLE Lithium Production Plant in USA
Energy X has recently announced the successful commissioning of a first-of-its-kind, U.S.-based lithium production facility at Project Lonestar, marking a major milestone toward commercial-scale domestic lithium production.
(Source: Pixabay)
April 2 – Energy Exploration Technologies (Energy X) has recently announced the successful commissioning of a first-of-its-kind, U.S.-based lithium production facility at Project Lonestar, marking a major milestone toward commercial-scale domestic lithium production.
The Lonestar demonstration plant, using industrial-grade equipment, is operational and will be producing approximately 250 metric tons per year of battery-grade lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). Using Energy X’s patented Get-Lit direct lithium extraction and refining technologies, this milestone represents the first direct lithium extraction facility operating in Texas processing local Smackover brine, and serves as a critical validation of Energy X’s extraction efficiency, recovery rates, and cost profile.
The Project Lonestar Lithium demonstration facility enables Energy X to further optimize system design, validate process economics, and provide 5-25 ton samples of battery grade lithium to customers for qualification. The facility is the last step before commercial expansion across the company’s growing U.S. lithium footprint while advancing national goals around critical mineral security and supply chain resilience.
Phelan Green Chooses Honeywell Technology for Landmark eSAF Facility
Phelan efuels will deploy Honeywell UOP’s Fischer Tropsch Unicracking process technology, which uses FT liquids and waxes made from CO2 to create eSAF that complies with aviation industry standards.
(Source: Pixabay)
April 8 – Phelan Green, through its clean fuels subsidiary Phelan efuels, has recently announced that it has selected Honeywell’s renewable fuel process technology for its planned electro sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) facility in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, South Africa. Phelan efuels will deploy Honeywell UOP’s Fischer Tropsch (FT) Unicracking process technology, which uses FT liquids and waxes made from CO2 to create eSAF that complies with aviation industry standards.
The new facility forms a core part of the Phelan Green Hydrogen Project, a R47 billion (approximately 2.5 billion dollar) private investment that has been formally recognized by the South African Government as a nationally strategic green industrial development. Once operational, the project will be one of the world’s first commercial-scale eSAF production facilities supplying more than 140,000 tons of eSAF to the EU and UK markets.
Construction of the Saldanha Bay facility will commence in Q4 2026 and will support thousands of local jobs across multiple phases, helping to position the country as a competitive export hub for next-generation aviation fuels.
Date: 08.12.2025
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Eni Secures 500 Million Euro Loan for New Biorefinery in Italy
The agreement was signed by EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi.
(Source: Eni)
April 13 – Recently the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Eni have signed a 15-year loan for 500 million euros to convert selected units of Eni’s Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi refinery, located in the Italian province of Pavia, into a biorefinery. The agreement was signed by EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi.
The project involves converting the refinery’s Hydrocracker (HDC2) unit using Ecofining technology, and building a pre-treatment plant for waste materials like used cooking oils and animal fats, as well as waste from the agri-food industry, which comprise the main feedstock used by Enilive (Eni’s company devoted to achieving more sustainable mobility) to produce hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) biofuels.
With its proprietary Ecofining technology, Enilive produces HVO – a biofuel made from renewable feedstocks (pursuant to the EU Renewable Energy Directive) such as used cooking oils and waste from the agri-food industry. Pure HVO can be used in approved engines, and is already available at more than 1,600 Enilive service stations across Europe. From 2028, the Sannazzaro plant will start producing HVO diesel biofuels and the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) biojet, with a production capacity of around 550,000 tons per year.
Building on existing utilities and infrastructure, the project will complement conventional fuel production with HVO diesel biofuels and SAF, helping reduce the carbon footprint of transport and decarbonize the aviation sector, for which SAF is currently the only available solution. By diversifying the product offering on the market, the project will also strengthen Italian and EU energy security, and serve the objectives of RE Power EU by expanding Europe’s biofuel production capacity.
Fluor Corporation Wins Contract for USA’s First New Refinery
An artist rendering of the America First Refining large-scale refining facility in Brownsville, Texas, the first new refinery to be constructed in the United States in more than 50 years.
(Source: Fluor Corporation)
April 13 – Fluor Corporation recently announced that it has been selected by America First Refining (AFR) to execute the front-end engineering and design (Feed) for their large-scale refining facility in Brownsville, Texas. The AFR facility is the first new refinery to be constructed in the United States in more than 50 years.
Fluor will recognize the undisclosed contract value in the first quarter of 2026.
The facility will leverage commercially proven technologies to cleanly and efficiently process American shale oil into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Upon completion, the refinery is expected to process more than 60 million barrels per year of domestic crude, supporting domestic energy resilience and cleaner fuel innovation.
“We are honored to partner with America First Refining on this landmark U.S. project,” said Pierre Bechelany, Fluor’s Business Group President of Energy Solutions. “Together, AFR and Fluor bring deep technical expertise and proven project delivery capabilities, positioning the project for successful execution. This collaboration reflects both companies’ commitment to advancing the nation’s refining infrastructure.”
Topsoe Signs Feed Contract for Green Ammonia Project in Jordan
Hynfra intends to export the green ammonia to the international fertilizer markets.
(Source: Topsoe)
April 16 – Topsoe has signed a Feed agreement for Hynfra’s green ammonia project located in the port of Aqaba, Jordan. The Feed is the detailed engineering and design of the plant and Topsoe’s ammonia synthesis technology will be part of this design. The synthesis technology will convert the facility’s green hydrogen to ammonia based on Topsoe’s Modulite platform – a reliable concept that enables fast deployment and scalable production.
Kim Hedegaard, CEO Power-to-X at Topsoe, said: “We’re proud to bring our ammonia expertise to Hynfra’s visionary project. Together, we’re helping to position Jordan as an important market for green ammonia in the Middle East. Green ammonia is key to cutting emissions across energy-intensive industries such as heavy industry and agriculture. That’s why scaling up green ammonia production matters.”
Tomoho Umeda, CEO at Hynfra, said: “The events of the past weeks confirm one thing: green ammonia is no longer just an environmental goal, but a geopolitical necessity. Our partnership with Topsoe on the Jordan Green Ammonia project is a direct response to the fragility of global trade and the volatility of gas prices. By utilizing Topsoe’s proven technology and our scalable, off-grid modules, we are decoupling essential supply chains from unstable energy markets and vulnerable infrastructure. We are providing off-takers with a strategic alternative – one that secures low-carbon fertilizers and industrial feedstock while insulating them from the shocks of global instability.”
The project, Jordan Green Ammonia, has been established as a joint venture between Hynfra and Fidelity Group, an industrial development company. It is Hynfra’s first project in the Middle East.
Hynfra intends to export the green ammonia to the international fertilizer markets.
Technip Energies awarded contract for Long Son Petrochemicals enhancement project in Vietnam
Technip Energies has been awarded a contract by Long Son Petrochemicals for its Long Son Petrochemicals Enhancement project, located on Long Son Island, Vietnam.
(Source: Unsplash)
April 16 – Technip Energies has been awarded a contract by Long Son Petrochemicals (LSP) for its Long Son Petrochemicals Enhancement (LSPE) project, located on Long Son Island, Vietnam. The contract covers engineering and procurement services, site assistance, and the supply of proprietary burners for the plant’s cracking furnaces. The project will convert the existing steam cracker from naphtha to ethane feedstock using Technip Energies’ proprietary ethylene technologies, including its Ultra Selective Conversion (USC) furnace design and Heat-Integrated Rectifier System (HRS), delivering high selectivity, enhanced energy efficiency and optimized ethylene recovery.
This strategic initiative will incorporate large quantities of ethane into the existing naphtha and propane feedstock mix, aiming to optimize feedstock efficiency, achieve substantial cost reduction, significantly reduce carbon footprint intensity, and strengthen long-term strategic resilience amidst global market volatility. This project is among the first worldwide in recent years to convert a naphtha-based steam cracker to ethane, as forward-looking petrochemical producers prioritize feedstock diversification and the adoption of lower-carbon inputs to ensure supply chain security.
This new project builds on the long-standing collaboration between Technip Energies and Long Son Petrochemicals. Technip Energies previously delivered the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the complex’s cracker unit between 2018 and 2023.
BASF’s Aroma Ingredients Business Launches Three New World-Scale Plants
The new citral plant in Zhanjiang, China.
(Source: BASF)
April 29 – BASF's Aroma Ingredients business unit recently announced the official launch of three newly built world-scale plants – menthol and linalool in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and citral in Zhanjiang, China. This announcement follows the inauguration ceremony of BASF’s Zhanjiang Verbund site held on March 26, 2026. In Ludwigshafen, the investment is in the triple-digit million-euro range.
The citral plant in Zhanjiang will supply the local market as well as the expanded downstream production, including menthol and linalool in Ludwigshafen. Menthol is an indispensable mint ingredient used in numerous products for oral and body care, in flavor compounds for confectionary and in the pharmaceutical industry. Linalool is a lavender aroma ingredient widely used in a broad range of applications – one of the largest areas of use for linalool is laundry care, but it is also a popular ingredient in other home, personal care and fine fragrance applications.
The integration of the new menthol and linalool downstream capacities into the Ludwigshafen Verbund site enables BASF to use resources, expertise and advanced production technologies based on the already existing assets at the site in the most efficient way.
With the full integration of the new capacities into the Verbund sites in China and Germany, BASF will use resources optimally and create synergies efficiently, thereby contributing to the company’s ambitious sustainability goals.
Evonik, Fuhua Successfully Complete Construction of H2O2 Facility in China
Evonik Fuhua New Materials has completed construction of its hydrogen peroxide facility in Leshan, Sichuan Province, China.
(Source: Evonik)
April 29 – Evonik Fuhua New Materials has completed construction of its hydrogen peroxide facility in Leshan, Sichuan Province, China. The joint venture between Evonik and Fuhua Tongda Chemicals Company (Fuhua) will purify industrial-grade H2O2 into specialty grades to serve high-growth markets in the region. The plant is now preparing to enter trial production, with the first commercial volumes expected in Q2 2026.
Based on technology licensed from Evonik’s Active Oxygens business line, the facility utilizes industrial-grade H2O2 produced by Fuhua as a feedstock. The resulting specialty grades will be offered to meet growing regional demand for high-end applications such as solar cell production, semiconductor manufacturing, food packaging, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The plant is designed with an annual production capacity of 20,000 tons.
Hydrogen peroxide is a versatile chemical needed for a wide array of industries. It plays an essential role in applications ranging from electronics to renewable energy and aseptic packaging. Yet after use, the chemical breaks down into only oxygen and water – giving it a particularly beneficial environmental handprint.
Bluealp Chosen as Technology Partner for Biobtx Project in Netherlands
Dutch technology companies Bluealp and Biobtx announce that Bluealp has been selected as technology partner for the Biobtx project in Delfzijl, The Netherlands.
(Source: Bluealp)
April 29 – Dutch technology companies BlueAlp and Biobtx announce that Bluealp has been selected as technology partner for the Biobtx project in Delfzijl. The goal is to combine the technologies in the Biobtx plant in Delfzijl to convert hard-to-recycle mixed plastic waste into high-value circular aromatics.
Bluealp’s patented pyrolysis technology will convert post-consumer mixed plastic waste into a gas-phase by gradually heating the plastic waste via pyrolysis. Biobtx will then convert via its proprietary catalytic process these vapours into circular aromatics – key chemical building blocks used in industries such as automotive and advanced materials.
The integrated technology will be implemented at Biobtx’s plant in Delfzijl, where Bluealp has been selected as the technology partner following a thorough technology evaluation process. Bluealp will provide Biobtx with a license to its technology and will be responsible for the detailed engineering, design, and fabrication of the pyrolysis unit, which will be integrated into the larger Biobtx facility.
The Biobtx plant will have an intake capacity of approximately 20 kilotonnes per year (kta) of mixed plastic waste. The pyrolysis unit is currently being fabricated at Bluealp’s headquarters in Eindhoven and the modules will be transported and integrated at the Delfzijl site from December 2026 onwards.