05-10-2010

Haldor Topsøe and Linde supply technology for POSCO’s SNG plant in South Korea

Topsoe, together with the technology group The Linde Group, announces that they have been selected as technology suppliers for the syngas treatment and methanation unit of POSCO’s synthetic natural gas (SNG) plant. The new plant will be erected in Gwangyang, South Korea, producing SNG from coal and/or petcoke.

The POSCO SNG plant, with a nominal capacity of 500,000 metric tons per year (MTPY) of pipeline-ready SNG, will be brought into operation by end of 2013. It will be the first SNG plant in South Korea.

The Linde Group’s Engineering Division will supply the full technology chain of syngas treatment and conditioning, including sour shift, acid gas removal – featuring Linde Rectisol® – and sulphur recovery. Haldor Topsøe will supply the complete methanation technology, TREMP™,  including conditioning of the product gas, to deliver SNG with a methane purity in excess of 98%.
 
Diversification of energy resources
"Given the strategic significance of the POSCO SNG project for the diversification of the energy supply in South Korea, the selection of TREMP™ for POSCO SNG is a milestone of utmost importance for the implementation of our SNG technology in the worldwide market. We are proud of this success, which is the result of a strong and effective collaborative effort among all parties involved," said Niels Kegel Sørensen, CEO of Topsoe.

Ground-breaking project
"As a world leading gases and engineering company we are proud to participate in this ground-breaking project to produce synthetic natural gas from coal,” said Dr Aldo Belloni, Member of the Executive Board of The Linde Group. “The SNG technology offers benefits in the conversion of energy, especially in coal-rich regions. Our technical solutions for syngas treatment are part of our comprehensive engineering expertise in the field of alternative fuel generation."
 
State-of-the-art plant
The project is owned by POSCO of South Korea, one of the largest steel producers in the world, and is executed by POSCO Engineering and Construction, a premier and global general construction and engineering company. The plant, which will feature ConocoPhillips’ E-gas gasification technology, will be adjacent to the steel works of Gwangyang, where site preparation is already initiated.

"With the selection of Linde and Topsoe, the POSCO SNG plant has acquired a state-of-the-art technology, the performance of which will set the standard for future SNG plants worldwide," said Changdae Byun, SNG Project Director of POSCO, at the signature ceremony at POSCO Center in Seoul.

Companies’ information
About POSCO. POSCO is one the largest steel producers in the world. POSCO had approximately 30,000 employees worldwide and US$31.6 billion of revenues in 2009. For more information, go to POSCO online at http://www.posco.com

About The Linde Group
The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost 48,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2009 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 11.2 bn. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development. For more information, see The Linde Group online at http://www.linde.com

About Topsoe
Topsoe is market leading in the field of heterogeneous catalysis. Haldor Topsøe supply catalysts and technologies for chemical and environmental processes in a broad range of industries, including fertilizer, oil and gas, energy, bulk chemicals manufacture and automotive. In 2009, the turnover totalled 572 million Euro generated by 2,100 employees around the world. Read more at www.topsoe.com