Asahi Kasei, Mitsui Chemicals and Mitsubishi Chemical Advance Decarbonised Ethylene Production in Western Japan
- ial
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
Asahi Kasei, Mitsui Chemicals and Mitsubishi Chemical have agreed on a major strategic collaboration to promote decarbonisation and optimise production capacity across their ethylene manufacturing operations in western Japan, supported by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
The three companies were selected for METI’s Fiscal 2025 Support Program for Energy and Manufacturing Process Conversion in Hard-to-Abate Industries (HtA Support Program), which encourages the transition from petroleum-based feedstocks to lower-carbon alternatives such as biomass. Under a newly signed basic agreement, the companies will establish a joint operating entity for their two ethylene facilities and consolidate production by discontinuing operations at the Asahi Kasei Mitsubishi Chemical Ethylene Corp. (AMEC) plant in Mizushima, Okayama Prefecture, while concentrating ethylene production at Osaka Petrochemical Industries’ (OPC) facility in Takaishi, Osaka by fiscal 2030.
As part of the HtA-supported initiatives, Asahi Kasei will install an initial facility at its Mizushima Works to produce ethylene, propylene and other basic chemicals from bioethanol using its Revolefinâ„¢ technology, which is currently under development. Following verification of performance and operational feasibility, the companies aim to begin joint commercial production of decarbonised basic chemicals in fiscal 2034.
Equipment modifications will be carried out at the Mizushima and Senboku sites to enable consolidation, after which the existing AMEC ethylene facility will be dismantled. The companies will jointly explore carbon-neutral uses for the vacated site. Recognising ethylene’s role as a foundational petrochemical, the alliance reflects the growing need for cooperation among neighbouring producers to overcome individual decarbonisation limits, fairly share costs and benefits, and build competitive, sustainable business models for carbon-neutral basic chemicals.
Source: Asahi Kasei