Page 171 - CW E-Magazine (12-11-2024)

News from Abroad

and electrification technologies, to billion yen (around $1.2-bn). The plant Hipore as well as our global network
produce separators to be utilised for capacity would be approximately 700 and diverse personnel to realise innova-
lithium-ion batteries that will accele- million m2 per year (as coated film) with tions in batteries for the future of
rate the realisation of high-performance commercial start-up scheduled in 2027. energy storage. As Honda strives toward
electrified vehicles. the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050,
Mr. Ryu Taniguchi, President & it is building a comprehensive electric
The two companies plan to estab- Representative Director at Asahi Kasei vehicle value chain in Canada, where
lish and start the operation of the joint Battery Separator Corp. said, “At the it has a history of conducting business
venture company in early 2025, sub- beginning of October, we launched for more than 50 years. Our partnership
ject to obtaining permits and approvals Asahi Kasei Battery Separator as a will not only establish a stable supply
from relevant authorities. new company for the Hipore separator of separators in North America, together
business to achieve more nimble man- we will enhance battery performance
The proposed integrated plant for the agement for this essential component and durability to advance the energy
base film manufacturing and coating of of lithium-ion batteries. I am confident transition through electric vehicles,
Hipore lithium-ion battery separator will that we can continue to leverage the making an important contribution to
involve an investment of around 180 technology and experience gained with sustainability.”

ULTRA-LOW CARBON CHEMICALS
NGC looking to source methanol from Transition

Industries’ Mexican project

US-headquartered low-carbon expected to be in operation in 2028. Tran- natural gas with carbon capture. Pacifico
chemicals firm, Transition Industries, sition Industries is jointly developing Mexinol is expected to break ground in
has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Pacifico Mexinol with the International early 2025 and begin commercial opera-
Japan’s Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Com- Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of tions.
pany (MGC) to enter into a long-term the World Bank Group. The terms of the
Methanol Sales Agreement (MSA). LOI and MSA were not disclosed. Mr. Masahiko Naito, Division Direc-
tor, C1 Chemicals Division for MGC,
Under the MSA, Transition Indus- When it commences commercial ope- said, “As one of the major producers and
tries intends to supply MGC approxi- rations in 2028, Pacifico Mexinol is suppliers of methanol globally, Mitsu-
mately 1-mtpa of ultra-low carbon metha- expected to be the largest single ultra-low bishi Gas Chemical prioritises the accele-
nol from its Pacifico Mexinol project, a carbon chemicals facility in the world – ration to lower carbon intensity of our
6,145-tpd methanol production facility producing ~350-ktpa of green methanol methanol supply and aims to contribute
near Topolobampo, Sinaloa, Mexico, and 1.8-mtpa of blue methanol from to a sustainable world.”
Asri Group invests in biofuel feedstock sourcing

PT Chandra Asri Pacific Tbk hotels, malls and other organisations to
(Chandra Asri Group), Indonesia’s leading sustainably and responsibly manage
energy and chemicals group, is partnering the UCO, which is then delivered to
with Singapore-based collectors and bio-refineries to produce green fuels
suppliers of waste-based feedstocks, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Biofront, to invest in biofuel feedstock (SAF).
sourcing and collection in Indonesia.
This move will be executed by leverag- By investing in sustainable fuel
ing Biofront’s Indonesian used cooking assets and technologies, Chandra Asri
oil (UCO) collection arm, TUKR. Group aims to be a leader in sustainable
practices within the industry and across
TUKR works with restaurants, the broader Southeast Asian region.

Chemical Weekly November 12, 2024 171

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