UK-based chemicals technologies company, Johnson Matthey, has announced that its technology will be licensed by China’s Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group at their coal to olefins complex in China. Johnson Matthey's technology sits in the middle of the plant (from a process perspective, not spatial) and will convert syngas into 7,200 metric tons per day of methanol.

Coal to what?

China produces 47% of the world's coal each year. At this new plant, coal is gasified to produce syngas (mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide). That syngas is then processed by Johnson Matthey to convert the syngas into methanol. Methanol can be converted into many things, but at this plant it will be converted into olefins, which will eventually become plastics and other useful chemicals.

So what's the big deal?

Johnson Matthey's part of the plant will be the largest single-train methanol plant in the world. The announcement indicates continued investment and growth in China's coal sector.

Read the press release here.

British telecommunications company, Vodafone, has announced that they will be installing a private 5G network for Centrica Storage's (CSL) gas processing site at the Easington Terminal in the UK. The 5G infrastructure will be the first application of the technology in the UK's oil and gas sector.

A private wireless network?

Remember last month when Phillips 66 successfully tested a private 5G network provided by AT&T? Installing a private wireless network like this one enables the monitoring of process equipment from a mobile device anywhere on site. 5G has a low enough latency allowing time-sensitive data (perhaps related to safety, like a gas leak) to be transmitted to workers wirelessly throughout the plant.

And even further into the future:

The CEO of CSL said that the network could eventually connect "a myriad of internet-enabled devices which now range from handheld personal devices to augmented reality headsets. This will improve safety, verification, asset performance and remote monitoring which ultimately leads to a safer, more reliable and cost efficient plant.".

Read the press release here.

Spanish integrated petroleum corporation, Repsol, has announced the successful completion of its first batch of aviation biofuel. The 7,000 tons of fuel was produced at its Puertollano Industrial Complex in Spain, and more batches will be produced across their facilities in the future.

What exactly is this aviation biofuel?

Aviation biofuels are a blend of traditional kerosene and biofuels such as ethanol, vegetable oils (esters of glycerine and fatty acids, called triglycerides) or biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester). Repsol's fuel specifically is made with under 5% biofuel, but its use will still prevent 400 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. According to Repsol, this is "equal to 40 Madrid-Barcelona flights". If that means nothing to you, it's roughly the same as 40 Houston-Oklahoma City flights.

Why only 5%?

International specifications for aviation fuel have high quality standards. This blended fuel was able to meet the requirements for Jet A1 grade fuel, which has a flash point minimum of 38°C and a freeze point minimum of -47°C. The molecules in biofuels are not identical to the molecules in kerosene. When you mix them, the properties you get will be a combination of the two.

Read the press release here.