The ammonia and methanol co-production facility is based on technology developed by leading catalysis and process technology company, Haldor Topsoe.
UCC (United Chemical Company) Shchekinoazot, a chemicals trading company based in Russia, has reportedly approved the results of a guarantee test run of a newly established methanol and ammonia co-production facility that is based on the IMAP™ (Integrated Methanol & Ammonia Process) developed by Haldor Topsoe.
The success of a guarantee test run confirmed that the unit produced guaranteed volumes with the anticipated consumption of natural gas. The test, conducted under the supervision of chemical industry major Haldor Topsoe’s experts, verified the plant to be safe for operation.
Sources familiar with the development stated that the new unit is expected to have an annual production capacity of 135,000 tons of ammonia and 450,000 tons of methanol. The co-production unit is reported to be the world’s first greenfield project that is centered on the flexible IMAP™ procedure, a CO2 neutral ammonia and methanol co-production process.
Anatoly Surba, the CEO of Shchekinoazot, was quoted saying that the company is pleased with the positive outcome of the performance test. Surba added that the IMAP™ process was selected for its streamlined process layout which is devoid of CO2 removal unit or shift reactors. The flexible technology, in addition to expanding its potential of methanol production, helped replace an old ammonia production plant with the more energy-efficient IMAP™ process.
Reportedly, UCC Shchekinoazot and Topsoe’s collaboration cropped up in 2007 during the start of the first methanol plant’s construction. Shchekinoazot is currently putting its third methanol production plant into effect under the Topsoe license, with 500,000 tons of methanol production per year.
UCC Shchekinoazot, for the record, specializes in the manufacture of industrial chemicals, synthetic fibers, engineering plastics as well as special & consumer products. The company largely exports its products to USA, Asia, Latin America and the countries of the CIS and Eastern & Western Europe.
