NextChem bags study for waste-to-methanol plant at Norway's Mongstad refinery

With the support of NextChem, Mana (NG Nordic) and Equinor are entering an early-stage strategic partnership to explore the potential development of the Nordics' first large-scale waste-to-methanol project at Mongstad complex

MAIRE announces that NextChem, through its subsidiary MyRechemical, a key player in the Waste-to-Chemical segment, has been selected by Mana Group and Equinor to conduct a feasibility study for a waste-to-methanol plant at Norway's Mongstad refinery.

The project will use NX Circular technology to convert urban and industrial waste into chemical grade syngas that will be further processed to produce low-carbon methanol.

The facility is expected to produce circular methanol with a low carbon footprint, eligible under the Renewable Energy Directive criteria.

This methanol could initially replace marine bunker fuel to meet the targets of the FuelEU Maritime regulation, exempting final users from buying ETS credits and paying penalties, and potentially later be used as feedstock for methanol-to-jet facilities to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) compliant with FuelEU Aviation regulation.

As technology integrator and service provider, NextChem will deliver the feasibility study to Mana/Equinor, providing the technical and economic evaluation of waste gasification and the subsequent purification of syngas for methanol production.

Fabio Fritelli, Managing Director of NextChem, commented: "We are proud to support this early-stage strategic partnership to explore the potential to develop the Nordics' first large-scale waste-to-methanol project at Mongstad, Norway. Northern Europe represents an ideal context for replicable and scalable industrial projects, with tangible environmental and industrial benefits."