Malaysian joint-venture biorefinery project awards KT-Kinetics Technology contract for hydrogen-production unit

The Pengerang Integrated Complex in Johor, Malaysia. (Photo: Petronas)

Maire announced Jan. 14 that its subsidiary KT-Kinetics Technology, supported by the technical know-how of sister company NextChem, has been awarded licensing as well as engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) services by the Pengerang Biorefinery in Johor, Malaysia, for a hydrogen-production unit (HPU) at the joint-venture project between Petronas, Enilive and Euglena.

Maire said its subsidiary NextChem will provide the license of its proprietary NX Reform™ technology.

The HPU will be part of a new biorefinery within Pengerang Integrated Complex and will produce around 38,000 normal metric cubes per hour of hydrogen, essential for the biorefinery’s conversion processes.

Upon completion, the biorefinery will process approximately 650,000 tons per year of raw materials such as used vegetable oils, animal fats and other waste feedstocks to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable diesel and bionaphtha.

The contract value is approximately USD$125 million and the plant is expected to be operational in 2028, according to Maire.

Maire will employ NextChem’s NX Reform™ technology, which Maire said is a cutting-edge solution that combines circularity and efficiency to produce low-carbon hydrogen while reducing emissions and maximizing resource recovery. 

This initiative aligns with Maire’s strategy to support clients like Petronas and its joint ventures in advancing the transition to low-carbon fuels and developing cutting-edge SAF production facilities. 

“This important achievement confirms Maire’s pivotal role in the energy transition, and its ability to deliver advanced and integrated solutions that enable our clients to lead the way in producing renewable fuels, contributing to a more sustainable future,” said Maire CEO Alessandro Bernini.