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Abu Dhabi plans green polypropylene project

19 July 2023

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and Japan's Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation (MCG) and Inpex Corporation have agreed to explore the production of the world’s first commercial-scale polypropylene made from carbon dioxide and green hydrogen in Abu Dhabi.

According to the plan, the green hydrogen and carbon dioxide will be converted to e-methanol, which will subsequently be converted to propylene and polypropylene.

Masdar and Inpex will be exploring the first stage of producing synthetic or e-methane, as earlier reported.

Simultaneously, the three companies will "investigate the techno-economic feasibility of a commercial-scale green hydrogen to e-methanol and polypropylene project".

Strategic project

Polypropylene is a type of plastic material used to manufacture everyday items such as bottles, jars and food packaging.

E-methanol, which will also be produced by the project, is a key synthetic fuel that can be used to decarbonise maritime transportation.

By developing this scheme, Masdar, MCG and Inpex aim to support hard-to-abate sectors, including the maritime and industrial sectors, to reduce their carbon footprints, the Abu Dhabi firm said on 18 July.

Inpex president and CEO Takayuki Ueda said his firm is looking forward to "working together with Masdar and MCG to pursue a green hydrogen to e-methanol and polypropylene supply chain linking the UAE and Japan".

He added that the initiative is fully aligned with the company's decarbonisation efforts as well as its long-term commitment to Abu Dhabi.

"We hope to leverage this opportunity to enhance our clean energy solutions and help realise a net-zero society by 2050,” Ueda said.

Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida witnessed the signing of the agreement during the Japan-UAE Business Forum held in Abu Dhabi on 17 July.

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Jennifer Aguinaldo

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