Maire subsidiaries awarded contract for hydrogen production unit at Malaysian biorefinery

Italy’s Maire has announced that its subsidiary KT -Kinetics Technology, supported by the technological know-how of Nextchem, has been awarded a contract by Malaysia’s Pengerang Biorefinery Sdn Bhd (a joint venture comprising Petronas Mobility Lestari Sdn Bhd, Enilive SpA, and Euglena Co Ltd).

The contract value is approx. US$125 million, and the plant is expected to be operational in 2028.

It comprises licensing, as well as engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) services for a hydrogen production unit (HPU) to be located in Johor, Malaysia. 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/hour of hydrogen, essential for the biorefinery’s conversion processes.

Upon completion, the biorefinery will process approx. 650,000 tonnes/year of raw materials such as used vegetable oils, animal fats and waste from the processing of vegetable oils to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and bio-naphtha.

Maire will employ Nextchem’s NX Reform technology, a solution to produce low-carbon hydrogen while reducing emissions and maximising resource recovery.

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