Asahi Kasei, Mitsui, Mitsubishi to start joint study on ethylene production sites

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Japanese majors Asahi Kasei, Mitsui Chemicals and Mitsubishi Chemical on Wednesday said they have agreed to perform a joint feasibility study on feedstock and fuel conversion at their ethylene production facilities in western Japan to accelerate their carbon neutrality targets.

“The joint feasibility study is expected to raise the speed and efficiency of the transition to carbon neutrality of the companies’ ethylene production facilities and each company’s petrochemical products,” they said in a joint statement.

The three companies will study “concrete measures” to drive their move towards carbon neutrality such as replacing petroleum-derived resources with biomass feedstock and conversion to low-carbon fuel, while also studying optimal future production arrangements.

In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 in accordance with the target set by the Japanese government, the three chemical giants have each adopted policies to become carbon neutral by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets to effectively zero.

“However, if initiatives are taken by each company individually, the speed of implementation and efficiency of GHG reduction are limited,” they said.

“This makes it increasingly necessary for multiple petrochemical manufacturers located nearby to cooperate with one another through mutual provision of technology and joint implementation of measures that contribute to carbon neutrality.”