Japan’s MHI, Egypt's ANRPC eye H2 use in oil refining

Japanese engineering firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industry (MHI) and Egypt's Alexandria National Refining and Petrochemicals (ANRPC) plan to introduce hydrogen into the oil refining process at ANRPC's refineries to cut CO2 emissions.

MHI has signed an agreement with ANRPC in early June on the hydrogen introduction. MHI will convert the existing boiler at ANRPC's refinery that currently burns fuel oil and natural gas into one that utilises natural gas and hydrogen, with a steam capacity of 100 t/hour.

By-product hydrogen produced at a catalyst reformer unit during the oil refining process will be utilised at the boiler, which is currently burned at a flare stack. MHI and ANPRC are targeting 100pc hydrogen burning at the boiler by the end of 2023.

The companies expect the project to reduce ANPRC's carbon emissions by 22,000 t/yr, contributing to Egypt's sustainable energy strategy, MHI said. ANRPC's gasoline supply makes up 30pc of Egypt's total domestic consumption, MHI added.

By Maiko Nakashima