Plant Watch Top 10 Engineering Projects of October 2023
Source: Press release
Solvay, Johnson Matthey, Adnoc, Exxonmobil, Lubrizol, Stamicarbon, John Cockerill Hydrogen, Saudi Aramco, Fluor, Carbios
9 min Reading Time
PROCESS Worldwide brings to you the ‘Top 10 plant engineering projects of October 2023’ from all over the world. Right from Solvay developing an electric furnace at its silica plant in France to Exxonmobil’s technology being selected for a demonstration plant in the Neom project, find out all the projects making headlines here.
At a glance: Plant engineering projects from across the globe.
Solvay to Develop New Electric Furnace at Silica Plant in France
The project has received support from Ademe as part of the France 2030 Recovery Plan.
(Source: Solvay)
October 03 – Solvay plans to construct a new electric furnace at its Silica Plant in Collonges, France with operations scheduled to start in 2025. This strategic shift towards clean energy sources anticipates a 20 % reduction in CO₂ emissions related to Silica production activities. This initiative marks one of the milestones in the plant's roadmap to shift away from fossil fuels towards more environmentally sustainable and economically competitive energy sources. It aligns with Solvay One Planet's overarching objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
This facility located near Lyon, France, produces silica for market applications such as green tires, battery separators, oral care and animal feed.
The project has received support from Ademe as part of the France 2030 Recovery Plan.
Baker Hughes Secures 400+ Million Dollar Contract from Adnoc
The Ruwais LNG project consists of two 4.8 million mtpa natural gas liquefaction trains with a total capacity of 9.6 mtpa of LNG.
(Source: Adnoc)
October 05 – Adnoc has awarded a contract, valued at more than 400 million dollars, to Baker Hughes, through its Nuovo Pignone International legal entity, for the supply of all-electric compression systems for the liquefaction of natural gas, to be powered by clean energy, for its low-carbon LNG asset in the Al Ruwais Industrial City, Al Dhafrah, Abu Dhabi. The LNG trains will comprise energy efficient Baker Hughes technology, including compressors, driven by 75 MW electric motors.
The Ruwais LNG plant will be the first LNG project in the Middle East and North Africa region to run on clean power, making it one of the lowest carbon intensity LNG facilities in the world.
The Ruwais LNG project consists of two 4.8 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) natural gas liquefaction trains with a total capacity of 9.6 mtpa of LNG. When completed, it will more than double Adnoc’s LNG production target capacity to meet increased global demand for natural gas.
Johnson Matthey’s Technology Selected for H2northeast Hydrogen Project
Kellas is delighted to announce it is partnering with Worley and Johnson Matthey, two leading service companies, for H2northeast Feed.
(Source: Johnson Matthey)
October 09 – Kellas Midstream, the Aberdeen-based independent energy infrastructure company, has started front end engineering design (Feed) work on its H2northeast hydrogen project in Teesside. The project has been working towards this key milestone since it was successfully awarded funding in March this year through the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, a UK government initiative to support the commercial deployment of low carbon hydrogen projects.
H2northeast is strategically located in Teesside, an area committed to becoming one of the world’s first decarbonized industrial clusters. Phase 1 of the project involves the design and build of a 355 MW hydrogen production facility and hydrogen distribution system, with the potential to upscale to more than 1 GW in a second phase by 2030, contributing up to 10 % of the UK’s target hydrogen capacity.
Kellas is delighted to announce it is partnering with Worley and Johnson Matthey, two leading service companies, for H2northeast Feed. Johnson Matthey has been appointed through Worley as Feed technology partner, deploying its leading LCH technology that will provide the highest process efficiency commercially available today for low carbon hydrogen production, and with more than 95 % carbon capture, it is higher than the levels set in the UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard, the most stringent in the world.
Moving into front end engineering design brings Kellas a step closer to final investment decision (FID) for H2northeast targeted for 2025, and commercial operation and first hydrogen production targeted in 2028.
Proman, Mitsubishi to Develop World-Scale Ultra-Low Carbon Ammonia Facility
The proposed plant would produce approximately 1.2 million tonnes per year of clean ammonia by incorporating state-of-the-art carbon capture and sequestration technology.
(Source: Pixabay)
October 18 – Proman has signed a MOU with Mitsubishi Corporation to explore building a world-scale ultra-low carbon ammonia facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The proposed plant would produce approximately 1.2 million tonnes per year of clean ammonia by incorporating state-of-the-art carbon capture and sequestration technology.
Date: 08.12.2025
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The proposed ultra-low-carbon ammonia facility will be located on Proman’s existing site in Lake Charles, adjacent to Proman’s natural gas to methanol plant, which is also under development.
The signing ceremony between Proman and Mitsubishi Corporation took place at the Third International Conference on Fuel Ammonia (CFA), organized by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Ammonia produced at the facility will be primarily exported to Japan as a clean fuel to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants, in line with Japan’s national strategy to grow domestic ammonia consumption in order to help achieve its decarbonization goals.
Exxonmobil Technology Selected for Demonstration Plant in Neom Project
Exxonmobil Catalysts and Licensing has licensed its advanced fluid bed Methanol-to-Gasoline technology to Aramco for a demonstration scale unit to be located in Neom’s Hydrogen Innovation and Development Center.
(Source: Aramco)
October 25 – Exxonmobil Catalysts and Licensing has licensed its advanced fluid bed Methanol-to-Gasoline technology to Aramco for a demonstration scale unit to be located in Neom’s Hydrogen Innovation and Development Center (HIDC).
Commissioning of the licensed MTG units is expected in 2025. The unit is planned to utilize methanol feedstock derived from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce a synthetic, high-octane, drop-in blend stock for potential use on/off road and racing applications.
“Aramco is exploring the production of low-carbon synthetic fuels that have CO2 reduction potential,” said Ali A. Al-Meshari, Aramco’s Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight & Coordination. “By leveraging innovative technologies, like the fluidized-bed MTG, we aspire to develop drop-in synthetic fuels that can potentially rolled-out seamlessly into existing vehicles.”
Lubrizol, Grasim Industries Begin Developing World’s Largest CPVC Resin Plant
Lubrizol and Grasim Industries break ground on the world’s largest CPVC resin plant, improving access to clean, safe drinking water for residents in India and across the globe.
(Source: Business Wire)
October 27 – Lubrizol and Grasim Industries, a flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, recently broke ground on the first phase of a 100,000 metric-ton CPVC resin plant in Vilayat, Gujarat, India. The facility located at the Grasim Industries’ site will be the largest single-site capacity for CPVC resin production globally, designed to meet rising CPVC demand for piping applications in India, as well as neighboring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
This resin plant will utilize Lubrizol’s most advanced CPVC resin manufacturing technology. This technology, coupled with Grasim’s expertise in reliable manufacturing, will enable access to high-quality, locally manufactured CPVC material.
In addition to the resin site, Lubrizol is doubling its existing CPVC compound manufacturing capacity at its Dahej, Gujarat, India site from 70,000 MT to 140,000 MT. When coupled, these projects advance Lubrizol’s standing in the region to be the largest producer and the only company with end-to-end CPVC capability, allowing for Lubrizol’s partners to meet the projected 10-12 % annual increase in CPVC demand within the India market. Lubrizol is also planning a research and development center at its Dahej site to address the rapidly changing needs of the India market.
Phase one of the resin site in Vilayat, as well as the additional line in Dahej, are expected to be operational by early 2025. With the upcoming project in Vilayat and expansion of the Dahej plant, Lubrizol is expected to generate more than 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.
John Cockerill Hydrogen to Develop New Gigafactory in Baytown, USA
John Cockerill advances US expansion of hydrogen in Houston area with launch of Gigafactory in Baytown, USA.
(Source: Business Wire)
October 27 – John Cockerill Hydrogen, a world leading electrolyzer manufacturer recently announced its US entry with the acquisition of manufacturing space in Baytown for a new gigafactory. The facility is expected to create 200 new jobs and produce 1 GW per year of electrolyzers. John Cockerill Hydrogen will serve the North American market from Houston and provide a domestic supply chain, local customer support, and green hydrogen production equipment.
Using existing buildings retrofitted with new equipment and leveraging on John Cockerill Hydrogen's extensive experience through its other plants around the world (Europe and China), production is expected to begin as early as Q3 2024 and will be among the first operational alkaline manufacturing facilities of this size in the US.
US executives chose Houston and specifically the Baytown – Chambers County site for its proximity to transport routes including a rail spur on site, major highways, nearby barge access which are key to facilitating inbound and outbound logistics, and for its significant base of hydrogen use including refining and petrochemicals and existing infrastructure such as export terminals, gas storage capacities and hydrogen pipelines. Additionally, Houston recently secured its place as one of seven regional hydrogen hubs in the US as designated by the Department of Energy, providing a network of energy transition partners and a favorable environment for innovation.
Carbios Secures Permits for Developing World’s First Pet Biorecycling Plant
Carbios has been granted the building permit and operating authorization for the world's first Pet biorecycling plant, allowing construction to start.
(Source: Carbios)
October 30 – Carbios has been granted the building permit and operating authorization for the world's first Pet biorecycling plant, allowing construction to start. The plant will be built in Longlaville in the Grand-Est Region on a 13.7-hectare site adjacent to the existing Pet production plant of Indorama Ventures, its strategic partner. This state-of-the-art facility, scheduled for commissioning in 2025, will play a crucial role in the fight against plastic pollution by providing an industrial-scale enzymatic recycling solution for Pet waste.
Carbios' technology enables Pet circularity and offers an alternative raw material to virgin fossil-based monomers, allowing Pet producers, chemical companies, waste management firms, public entities, and brands to have an effective solution to meet regulatory requirements and fulfill their sustainability commitments. The plant will have a processing capacity of 50,000 tons of post-consumer Pet waste per year (mostly waste that is non-recyclable mechanically, equivalent to 2 billion colored Pet bottles or 2.5 billion Pet food trays) and will generate 150 direct and indirect jobs in the region.
Construction of the plant can start before the end of this year for commissioning in 2025. The plant will be built on a 13.7-hectare site acquired by Carbios on Indorama Ventures' existing Pet plant site without suspensive conditions. The land area gives the possibility to double the facility's capacity.
Aramco, Enowa to Develop Innovative E-Fuel Demo Plant
Aramco Executive Vice President of Technology & Innovation, Ahmad O. Al Khowaiter, left, and Enowa Chief Executive Officer Peter Terium, right, during the signing which took place at the seventh edition of the Future Investment Initiative, in Riyadh, on October 24.
(Source: Saudi Aramco)
October 31 – Aramco and Enowa, Neom’s energy and water company, have signed a joint development agreement to construct and establish a first-of-its-kind synthetic electro fuel (e-fuel) demonstration plant. It will be located in Enowa’s Hydrogen Innovation and Development Center (HIDC) and aims to demonstrate technical feasibility and commercial viability by producing 35 barrels per day of low-carbon, synthetic gasoline from renewable-based hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide (CO2).
The e-fuel technology, built on a circular carbon economy approach, has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by over 70 percent on a complete life cycle basis, compared to conventional fuels. Once complete, the integrated facility will generate 12 tons of synthetic methanol per day from green hydrogen and CO2, using proprietary technologies developed by ThyssenKrupp Uhde. The synthetic methanol will then be converted into low-carbon gasoline using Exxonmobil’s Fluidized-Bed Methanol-to-Gasoline (MTG) technology.
The HIDC will also produce green hydrogen by leveraging an on-site 20-megawatt electrolyzer, powered by renewable energy sources. The innovation center being created by Enowa will showcase the region’s vast potential to generate and use wind and solar power commercially. Through a joint development agreement, Neom will oversee the construction of the plant, while Aramco and Enowa will jointly oversee operations and investment in relevant research programs.
The integrated e-fuel facility will demonstrate technical feasibility and commercial viability of a synthetic gasoline value-chain and is a flagship project that falls within Aramco’s wider research, development and demonstration efforts with low-carbon, synthetic fuels.
Fluor Wins Contract for World’s First Industrial-Scale Sodium-Ion Battery Production Unit
The project will be managed from Fluor’s Farnborough, England office.
(Source: Pixabay)
October 31 – Fluor Corporation has recently announced that its Advanced Technologies & Life Sciences business line has been selected by Altris to provide front-end engineering and design (Feed) services for the world’s first industrial-scale sodium-ion battery production facility in Sandviken, Sweden. Fluor recognized the undisclosed contract value in the third quarter of 2023.
“This is a major step forward in battery evolution and the energy transition journey,” said Richard Meserole, president of Fluor’s Advanced Technologies & Life Sciences business line. “We are thrilled that Altris turned to Fluor to help them bring this cutting-edge technology to market that will transform manufacturing to be safer and more sustainable. It is always rewarding when we can help our clients take ideas from concept to commercialization.”
Altris is a Swedish sodium-ion battery maker that develops cathodes, electrolytes, battery cells and the industrialization process for these products. Sodium-ion batteries are inherently safe and easy to recycle because they are mainly comprised of salt, wood, iron and air.
The project will be managed from Fluor’s Farnborough, England office. Feed completion is scheduled for early 2024.