04-12-2012

Davy Process Technology and Johnson Matthey announce successful start-up of SNG plant

Davy Process Technology (Davy), a wholly owned Johnson Matthey subsidiary and Johnson Matthey are pleased to announce the successful start-up of a new substitute natural gas (SNG) plant owned and operated by Datang Energy Chemical Co. Ltd. (Datang) in Keshiketeng County, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China.
 
The plant uses Davy’s SNG process technology in conjunction with Johnson Matthey’s purification and methanation catalysts to convert coal derived synthesis gas into SNG, essentially methane, which will be transported via a new gas pipeline to Beijing. The plant capacity is 4,000,000 Nm3/day and it is one of three plants Datang is building at Keshiketeng, giving an overall site capacity of 12,000,000 Nm3/day. The second plant is in the detailed engineering phase and the third plant is in the final stages of approval.
 
Datang has successfully started up the plant and completed an initial demonstration run. The successful attainment of this key project milestone is due to the excellent teamwork and co-operation between Davy and Johnson Matthey as technology licensor and catalyst supplier, Datang as the owner and operator and SEDIN Engineering Company Ltd., the Chinese Design Institute.
 
The plant is one of six SNG plants that Davy and Johnson Matthey have licensed into China, and the first to start-up and produce gas.  Another Davy/Johnson Matthey SNG plant is expected to start-up in 2012 with two further plants coming on stream in 2013.  The plant is now being held ready for commercial operation in the winter to meet the high demand for energy supply to the major Chinese cities and especially to Beijing.
 
Antoine Bordet, Managing Director of Davy said “We are delighted at this milestone achievement and it shows the excellent cooperation and teamwork involved to reach this stage.  We are looking forward to further cementing our relationships with Datang whilst working on the additional phases of the overall complex.”

For more information, please visit www.jmcatalysts.com/refineries.