Occidental Petroleum builds low-carbon bio-ethylene plant

China Petrochemical News Network reported on May 3, according to a hydrocarbon processing website, Occidental Petroleum's low-carbon department said on Tuesday that it plans to build and operate a pilot plant that uses man-made carbon dioxide instead of hydrocarbon feedstock to produce bio-ethylene.

The pilot plant will be jointly developed by Occidental Petroleum’s venture capital company Occidental Petroleum Low-Carbon Joint Venture Co.

Bioethylene is currently produced from bioethanol made from sugar cane.

Cemvita CEO Moji Karimi said that this new technology uses carbon dioxide, water and light to produce bio-ethylene, which will help reduce costs and carbon emissions.

Ethylene is widely used in the chemical industry as a component of products ranging from plastic films to PVC pipes and coolants.

In recent years, interest in low-carbon initiatives has increased, from companies seeking to offset their climate impact to government officials worried about the slow progress of international emissions reduction agreements.

In 2019, Occidental Petroleum Low-Carbon Joint Venture Co.

Wang Lei, translated from Hydrocarbon Processing

The original text is as follows:

　　Occidental unit to build low-carbon bio-ethylene plant

　　Occidental Petroleum's low-carbon unit said on Tuesday it plans to construct and operate a pilot plant that would use human-made carbon dioxide, instead of hydrocarbon-sourced feedstocks, to produce bio-ethylene.

　　The pilot plant will be jointly developed by Occidental's venture capital arm, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC, and bio-engineering startup, Cemvita Factory.

　　Bio-ethylene is currently made from bio-ethanol, which is made from sugarcane.

　　The new technology produces bio-ethylene from carbon dioxide, water and light, which helps lower costs and carbon emissions, Cemvita's Chief Executive Officer Moji Karimi said.

　　Ethylene, widely used in the chemical industry, is a component of products ranging from plastic films to PVC piping and coolants.

　　Interest in low-carbon initiatives has grown in recent years, ranging from companies seeking to offset their climate impact to public officials worried about the slow pace of international agreements to cut emissions.

　　Oxy Low Carbon Ventures in 2019 had invested in Cemvita to look at bio-manufacturing for Occidental's chemical unit.