On September 29, thyssenkrupp nucera announced that it has won a chlor-alkali technology order from Hongniu (Lanzhou) Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., with a contract value in the double-digit million euro range.
Under the contract, nucera will provide technology licensing, engineering design, procurement services, key equipment, and commissioning support. The project will use nucera's new-generation e-BiTAC v7 ion-exchange membrane electrolysis technology for Hongniu Lanzhou's new chlor-alkali plant. At a current density of 6 kA/m², the technology consumes less than 1,960 kWh of electricity per tonne of caustic soda, aiming to reduce energy consumption in the electrolysis process.
Keisho Cho, CEO of thyssenkrupp nucera China, said the order reflects the customer's recognition of the company's chlor-alkali technology and project execution experience. Wang Zhaomin, general manager of Hongniu Group, said the choice of nucera was mainly based on its energy efficiency performance, operational reliability, and global project experience.
Supporting Construction of a 600,000 t/y Caustic Soda Project
Hongniu Lanzhou is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jiangsu Hongniu Environmental Protection Group Co., Ltd. and is responsible for the group's related project construction in Northwest China.
At present, Hongniu Lanzhou is building a project in Lanzhou New Area for the resource utilization of 600,000 t/y of waste salt and the co-production of 600,000 t/y of ion-exchange membrane caustic soda. The project has a total investment of RMB 4.9 billion and covers 850 mu, or about 56.7 hectares. It adopts proprietary technology from Jiangsu Jinniu Environmental Protection, using sodium chloride obtained after treating industrial waste salt for ion-exchange membrane caustic soda production, thereby linking waste salt disposal with chlor-alkali production.
The project is being built in two phases, each supporting 300,000 t/y of waste salt disposal capacity and 300,000 t/y of caustic soda production capacity. After the project is fully completed, its annual output value is expected to exceed RMB 3.4 billion.
First Cooperation Opens Northwest Chlor-Alkali Market
This order marks the first cooperation between nucera and Hongniu Lanzhou. Introducing mature ion-exchange membrane electrolysis technology is an important part of Hongniu Lanzhou's advancement of the caustic soda project. After the project is commissioned, caustic soda and by-product chlorine can provide raw material support for related chemical enterprises in Lanzhou New Area.
At the same time, nucera has further expanded its business in China's chlor-alkali market through this order. As domestic chlor-alkali enterprises focus on electrolysis energy consumption and plant operating efficiency, upgrading electrolysis technology and key equipment remains one of the important needs of the industry.
