Page 153 - CW E-Magazine (30-1-2024)

News from Abroad News from Abroad

PROJECT UPDATE CROP PROTECTION SOLUTIONS
BASF opens TPU plant at Zhanjiang Verbund site Syngenta and Enko announce novel fungicide discovery

BASF recently inaugurated its Swiss agrochemicals major, Syn- rigorously test them for safety and
Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) genta, and American crop health com- effi cacy.
plant at the Zhanjiang Verbund site pany, Enko, have discovered a novel
in China. The new plant is the largest chemistry solution to control fungal The two companies further aim to
single TPU production line for BASF disease in crops, using a platform that build on the success of the fungicide
globally. “The plant will enable BASF reduces the time required for R&D collaboration, and have signed a new
to meet the growing market demand for discovery. agreement to discover novel chemical
TPU in Asia Pacifi c – particularly in the starting points for a new herbicide.
industrial, emobility and new energy The new chemistry features a new
segments, as well as to be closer to key mode of action designed to target dis- ple crops – rice, wheat, corn, soybeans “We are excited to partner with
customer industries in China and Asia eases that can devastate cereal crops. and potatoes – this is estimated to be Enko to apply the latest in drug dis-
Pacifi c,” said Dr. Martin Jung, Presi- This breakthrough was achieved by enough to feed as much as 4 billion covery and development approaches
dent, Performance Materials, BASF. screening billions of chemical mole- people a daily diet of 2,000 calories used in the pharmaceutical industry
cules within Enko’s DNA-encoded for a whole year. Experts predict such to agriculture, and to be able to bring
“In 2022, we inaugurated our engi- libraries, and then using artifi cial intel- losses will worsen with global warm- new and effective agricultural solutions
neering plastics plant right next to the ligence and machine learning models ing widening the spread of fungal in- even more quickly to farmers,” said
TPU plant at the same location. With to identify potent, selective molecules. fections, as well as rising resistance to Ms. Camilla Corsi, Global Head of
these two plants, we are all set to meet This signifi cantly shortens the time existing fungicides. Research at Syngenta Crop Protection.
the growing market demand for not only required for the discovery process,
TPU, but also engineering plastics in while ensuring molecules meet speci- The fungicide discovery milestone “By proving that digital tools can
Asia Pacifi c, particularly South China,” Zhanjiang Verbund site project has been mediates, among others,” he added. BASF fi ed safety criteria. is part of Syngenta and Enko’s multi- cut discovery time for new crop pro-
said Mr. Andy Postlethwaite, Senior progressing steadily as planned and has plans to power the entire Zhanjiang Ver- year collaboration to bring new, affor- tection solutions, we hope to accelerate
Vice President, Performance Materials now well concluded the construction of bund site with 100% renewable energy Fungal pathogens are a major chal- dable, safe and sustainable crop pro- the digital transformation shift within
Asia Pacifi c. BASF South East Asia. its initial phase,” said Mr. Haryono Lim, by 2025. The new site will be BASF’s lenge to the health of crops worldwide. tection solutions to farmers globally. the agricultural industry as growers’
President, Mega Projects Asia, BASF. largest investment to date with around Diseases caused by these pathogens The companies have now entered into needs become more urgent,” added
“BASF’s strategy is to produce “The site is now focusing on building €10-bn upon completion. It will be the alone cause growers to lose between the next phase of their collaboration, to Enko’s CEO and founder, Mr. Jacque-
where our customers are. Thanks to the its core of the Verbund including a steam company’s third-largest Verbund site 10-23% of their yield; for the top 5 sta- optimise the fungicide’s attributes and line Heard.
strong support from the Chinese Govern- cracker and several downstream plants worldwide, following Ludwigshafen,
ment, our employees, and partners, the to produce petrochemicals and inter- Germany, and Antwerp, Belgium. Leading plastics expo, K 2025, opens exhibitor

NEW FACILITY registration process
Saudi Chemical plans technical ammonium nitrate Messe Düsseldorf, the organiser of fair comprise the segments machinery kamp, Managing Director, Messe Düs-
plant in Ras Al Khair the leading global plastics and rubber and equipment, raw materials and auxi- seldorf. K 2025 will address the mega
exhibition, K 2025, has commenced liaries as well as semi-fi nished pro-
themes of climate protection, digitali-
Saudi Chemical Company Ltd. opment and operation of Saudi Arabia’s venture would supply TAN and nitric acid the online registration process for exhi- ducts, technical parts and reinforced sation and circular economy. K 2022
(SCCL), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian fi rst ever TAN plant. It will support the to Saudi regional mining and industrial bitors. The trade show held every three plastic products. already succeeded in making a power-
investment fi rm, Saudi Chemical Co. project’s Front End Engineering Design users and enable Dyno Nobel to supply years is scheduled to take place in Düs- ful statement in these fi elds presenting
Holding (SCCH), has signed a non- and project services for the development TAN to its international mining customer seldorf, Germany from October 8-15, “No other trade fair presents as sustainable solutions that will be taken
binding memorandum of understanding of the 300-ktpa TAN plant and 440-ktpa base, Incitec Pivot said. The MoU has a 2025. “Registration documents are now many complex solutions and none is to the next level in 2025. “Exhibitors
(MoU) with Dyno Nobel for establishing nitric acid facility in Ras Al-Khair, an duration of six months, during which a available at www.k-online.com. For all as international as K in Düsseldorf. at the forthcoming K will showcase
a production facility to produce technical eastern province of Saudi Arabia. thorough review of the project’s prelimi- companies wishing to take part in K K 2025 is not only the industry’s perfor- further innovations for the responsible
ammonium nitrate (TAN) and nitric acid nary studies and fi nancial model will take 2025, the deadline for registrations is mance barometer and its global market- and value-driven handling of plastics
in Saudi Arabia. Dyno Nobel, the com- A key part of the MoU is the future place. Additionally, one of the specialised 31 May 2024,” a press statement from place for innovations, but also provides and rubber as well as fl ag up new ave-
mercial explosives subsidiary of Aus- establishment of a joint venture with SCCL engineering fi rms will generate initial de- the organiser informed. orientation, sets sustainable economic nues that allow plastics to be managed
tralia’s Incitec Pivot Ltd., will provide and the investment company for construc- signs, culminating in a conclusive evalua- impulses and present forward-looking in closed-loop systems,” the press note
a range of expertise to assist the devel- tion and operation of the plant. The joint tion of the undertaking’s feasibility. The ranges on display at this trade trends,” emphasised Mr. Erhard Wien- added.

152 Chemical Weekly January 30, 2024 Chemical Weekly January 30, 2024 153

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