MOL GROUP ENTERS INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH INOVACAT

  • INOVACAT’s GASOLFIN™ technology converts naphtha into high-value olefins

  • The cooperation is expected to support upscaling and commercialization of INOVACAT’s breakthrough technology

  • As part of its 2030 strategy MOL aims to increase the flexibility in refining and strengthen its petrochemical production, including high value olefins

 

Budapest, 19 June 2018 – MOL Group entered into a strategic partnership with INOVACAT, a Dutch technology innovator in the refining and petrochemical industries. The cooperation is expected to further upscale and commercialize INOVACAT’s breakthrough GASOLFIN™ technology that converts naphtha into propylene, butylene and BTX (benzene, toluene, and xylene), while supporting MOL’s strategic objective to become a leading chemical company in Central Eastern Europe.

MOL Group will support the next stages of the development program of INOVACAT and will investigate different options for the implementation of GASOLFINTM in its production facilities. This patented technology delivers propylene yields up to 45% depending on feedstock, can convert any light straight run naphtha including pentanes and is fully flexible on product output without a catalyst change-over. It is also at least 30% more energy efficient than comparable conventional processes, with CO2 emissions being at least 25% lower. Through its cost-leading, drop-in technology INOVACAT enables any refiner or petrochemical company to fully integrate their operations for maximum profitability and flexibility, providing them with a competitive advantage in their markets.

 “A main challenge of the MOL 2030 Strategy is to increase production of value added products, while reducing the production of fuels over the next 15 years.  We are investigating technical solutions to develop our existing refining and petrochemical asset base, but we are also very interested in new technologies like INOVACAT’s GASOLFIN™, that can potentially significantly help us meet our goal.” - said David Pullan, VP Group Downstream Technology & Development.

 “We are looking forward to working in partnership with MOL to provide them with our very competitive GASOLFIN™ technology. This will enable MOL to convert their lower-value naphtha into propylene, butylene and BTX in a flexible and capital-efficient way.” - commented Niels van Buuren, CEO INOVACAT.

As MOL Group’s 2030 transformational strategy aims to diversify the company away from fossil-based motor fuels, it is continuously looking for new innovative technologies that increase the flexibility and strengthen its footprint in the petrochemicals business. By 2030, MOL plans to increase its non-fuel production in refining from the current 30% to 50% of total output, which will be done mostly through increasing feedstock transfer to chemicals. In order to reach its strategic goals, MOL plans to invest around USD 4.5 billion into its petrochemical segment by 2030, focusing mainly on the extension of the propylene value chain in the next five years.

About MOL Group

MOL Group is an integrated, international oil and gas company, headquartered in Budapest, Hungary. It is active in over 30 countries with a dynamic international workforce of 26,000 people and a track record of more than 100 years in the industry. MOL’s exploration and production activities are supported by more than 80 years’ experience in the hydrocarbon field and its diverse portfolio includes oil and gas presence in 13 countries, with production activity in 8 countries. MOL Group operates four refineries and two petrochemicals plants under integrated supply chain management in Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia, and owns a network of nearly 2,000 service stations across nine countries in Central & South Eastern Europe.

About INOVACAT

INOVACAT is a technology innovator, headquartered in Amersfoort, The Netherlands with its R&D center in Greece. As part of the hydrocarbon value chain, our customers in the refinery and petrochemical industry operate in dynamic and competitive markets. At INOVACAT we develop innovative technologies to create a sustainable competitive advantage for our customers and help them improve their environmental footprint. GASOLFIN™ is one of these technologies.

 

Contacts for media

MOL Group

Anna Wisniowska                                                                                   Tamás Berzi
m: +36202433963 | @: awisniowska@mol.hu                                 m: +36204097632 | @: tberzi@mol.hu

INOVACAT

Herman van den Bold

m: +31638373289 | @: hvandenbold@inovacat.com

 

Inovacat announces new CEO

Inovacat announced the appointment of its new CEO Niels van Buuren today. "Inovacat has experienced very fast growth during the last two years due to the sector's interest in our GASOLFIN™ technology. We are now entering a new phase of building our GASOLFIN™ demo plants where additional skills are required. We are excited Niels is going to join our team. He will add strategic and financial experience and board level thinking to our team" according to Ray Fletcher, former CEO and one of the founders of the company. "I am very excited to join the Inovacat team and to help bringing their breakthrough GASOLFIN™ technology to market" said Niels van Buuren, former board member of Centrica Energy.

INOVACAT announces hiring of Dr. Bart de Graaf to lead its innovation projects

22/11/2017: Today INOVACAT announced the hiring of Dr. Bart de Graaf as Chief Technology Officer of the company. "We are very lucky to be able to hire Bart as we consider him one of the top five catalyst experts in the world. As the company has been growing, Bart will take over my role in leading the further development of the catalyst system of our GASOLFIN™ technology" says Ray Fletcher, CEO of the company. "I am excited to further push the development of GASOLFIN™ and other breakthrough technologies in INOVACAT's portfolio" says Dr. Bart de Graaf.

Bart holds a M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Twente University and a Ph.D. in Heterogeneous Catalysis from the University of Amsterdam. Bart has worked in various technical and leadership roles in research and technical sales with Akzo Nobel/Albemarle Catalyst Company and Johnson Matthey Process Technologies. Dr. Bart de Graaf has authored several papers in both trade - and peer reviewed journals, especially on fluid catalytic cracking, its catalysis and chemistry.

INOVACAT announces GASOLFIN technology

INOVACAT Announces the Development of a Breakthrough Process, GASOLFIN, for Maximum Propylene Production from Naphtha at the Lowest Costs

Amsterdam, December 31st 2016: INOVACAT B.V., a process technology innovator, announced today that it has developed a new catalyst based process, capable of converting a full range of naphthas into propylene, butylene and aromatics.  The GASOLFIN™ (Gasoline-to-Olefins) process will produce up to 42 wt% propylene, 24 wt% butylene and 20 wt% aromatics depending on feed stock selection.  Capital costs are up to 50% lower while operational costs are 30% lower than comparable technologies.

“The GASOLFIN™ process represents the first genuine breakthrough in propylene processing technology in the last several decades,” says Ray Fletcher, CEO of INOVACAT.  “The significant reduction in both CapEx and OpEx will result in the lowest possible propylene manufacturing costs, compared to other technologies available in the petrochemical industry.”

The heart of this technology is the breakthrough catalysis.  All catalyst testing has been executed and confirmed by CPERI laboratory in Thessaloniki, Greece.  CPERI laboratories is a globally recognized, fully independent research facility servicing the Refining and Petrochemical Industries. 

INOVACAT announces technology partnership with CERTH/CPERI, Greece

14/07/2015: Today INOVACAT announced its technology partnership with the CERTH/CPERI research institute in Thessaloniki, Greece. "We feel very fortunate to partner with CERTH/CPERI which is considered one of the global leading, independent research institutes in the petrochemistry sector. This will accelerate the development of our latest gasoline-to-olefins technology" says Ray Fletcher, CEO of INOVACAT.