Three Japanese companies study decarbonization of petrochemical plants

Recently, Sumitomo Chemical, Maruzen Petrochemical and Mitsui Chemicals announced that the three chemical companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly study the feasibility of implementing a decarbonization cooperation project at the Keiyo Petrochemical Plant in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Under the agreement, the three companies will explore the possibility of cooperating to implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as fuel and feedstock switching.

It is reported that in order to diversify the use of raw materials, the three companies will evaluate the use of biomass resources, and develop and implement new chemical recycling and material recovery technologies, as well as explore how to obtain biomass and collect waste for recycling. They will consider substituting raw materials used in the Chiba petrochemical plant's production facilities, such as naphtha for steam cracking, and updating infrastructure related to these processes.

The three companies stated that the chemical industry accounted for about 15% of the carbon dioxide emitted by Japan's industrial sector in 2020. The Japanese chemical industry realizes that it has a key role to play in meeting the Japanese government's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

Mitsui Chemicals operates a naphtha cracker at its Chiba plant with an annual output of 612,000 tons of ethylene, according to S&P Global Commodity Watch. Maruzen Petrochemical operates a naphtha cracker in Chiba with an annual output of 525,000 tons of ethylene. Keiyo Ethylene, a joint venture between Maruzen Petrochemical and Sumitomo Chemical, operates a 768,000-ton/year naphtha cracker in Chiba.