Air Liquide Supports Construction of Largest Methanol Plant in Africa
Air Liquide Engineering & Construction has signed an agreement with Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company Limited (BFPCL) to support the construction of the largest natural gas to methanol plant in Nigeria, Africa.
As part of the agreement, Air Liquide Engineering & Construction will be the technology licensor, bringing its extensive experience in the design and engineering of Methanol plants.
This Methanol plant, to be the largest in Africa, will be located in Odioma, Brass Island, Bayelsa State and will be able to produce up to 10,000 tons of Methanol per day based on Air Liquide Engineering & Construction proprietary process technology for large scale syngas and methanol, Lurgi MegaMethanol™, which efficiently converts natural gas into methanol. The plant is planned to be operational in 2024 and will service local and export markets.
Air Liquide Engineering & Construction is a world leading methanol licensor, with over 50 years-experience in plant design, engineering, procurement and construction offering customers safe, reliable and energy efficient technology solutions.
Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company Limited (BFPCL), is an incorporated entity with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), DSV Engineering, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as the project sponsors and shareholders.
Methanol synthesis
The gas stream obtained from syngas production is then converted into methanol. Our reactors have a long and proven track record. They are available in single-stage water-cooled or two-stage water- and gas-cooled configurations that can be optimized by heat management or interstage condensation.
Methanol distillation
After synthesis, methanol undergoes energy-integrated distillation to produce high-purity methanol (e.g. grade AA and IMPCA grade). The crude methanol is purified in a cost-saving 2-column or an energy-saving 3-column distillation unit. The low boilers are removed in the pre-run column and the higher boiling components are separated in either one or two pure methanol columns.
About Air Liquide Engineering & Construction
Air Liquide Engineering & Construction is the world engineering and construction business unit of the Air Liquide Group. They combine cutting-edge innovation with a comprehensive portfolio of proprietary technology to contribute to the transformation of many industries.
About Air Liquide Group
The company’s customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable growth over the long term.
It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide.
Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders.
Air Liquide’s revenue amounted to EUR 20.3 billion in 2017 and its solutions that protect life and the environment represented more than 40% of sales.
