April 12, 2012
Synthesis Energy announces cooperation with Beijing Zhonghuan for fertiliser market in China
A Cooperation Framework Agreement for Coal to Ammonia for the Fertiliser Market in China has been entered between Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. (SES) and Beijing Zhonghuan Engineering & Project Management Co., Ltd. (ZEP), as announced by Synthesis Energy on Thursday (Apr 5).
Under terms of the agreement, SES and ZEP will jointly explore undertaking a nitrogenous fertiliser retrofit project using SES'' U-GAS(R) gasification technology, with the goal of developing it into a demonstration project. If the results of this undertaking are successful, SES and ZEP intend to establish an exclusive cooperation based upon retrofitting many of the existing ammonia projects in the nitrogenous fertiliser industry in China with SES gasification technology, combined with ZEP engineering and project management. Today, China''s ammonia production for fertilisers relies heavily upon a large number of projects utilising outdated coal-conversion technologies that require expensive coals such as anthracite, and a process that results in significant environmental damage. The parties are developing a turnkey solution that includes integrated design, equipment, technology, and installation packages for refuelling these projects to low cost, lower quality coals through utilising SES'' gasification technology, which is much more environmentally benign, and are simultaneously identifying and developing the initial customer opportunities for the cooperation.
Robert Rigdon, President and CEO of SES, stated, "This agreement is a significant step forward in our efforts to establish a business line for China''s ammonia industry that can deliver recurring revenue to SES through the sale of equipment and technology packages based upon a fully engineered solution delivered on a turnkey basis. This is a ''capital-light'' approach to commercialising our technology in an important business segment with a well-defined and large target market. We believe we can add significant near-term value for our customers by lowering their operating fuel costs and improving their environmental footprint at the same time. Through our planned China centric business platform, we intend to enter into similar agreements with partners who address other key verticals, such as steel, coal to chemicals and coal to fuels, as well as the production of synthetic natural gas."
Rigdon continued, "I am delighted that we and ZEP will be working together to provide fully engineered technology and equipment retrofit solution packages based upon SES'' U-GAS(R) gasification technologies and ZEP''s engineering capabilities, positioning our technology to be the technology of choice for the coal to ammonia segment of China''s huge fertiliser industry. ZEP is a large, highly regarded engineering firm in China and we could not have a better partner to help us achieve our ambitious objectives."
"China is the world''s largest producer of ammonia, with annual production of approximately 60 million tonnes, according to a report from the Chinese government for the 12th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. There are 472 nitrogenous fertiliser companies in China operating approximately 3,500 inefficient atmospheric fixed bed intermittent gasifiers that require some of the most expensive coal available, have significant limitations in terms of resources and energy, have a large environmental impact, and have production costs that are especially high," commented Yu Yiyao, Vice Chairman of ZEP. "We have studied the application of SES'' technology in this industry and estimate that one SES gasification system has the capability to retrofit five of the old-generation systems, offering a large available market of approximately 700 units for our packaged solution. We believe SES'' U-GAS(R) gasification technology is ideally suited for retrofitting the existing plants with the atmospheric fixed bed intermittent gasifiers, as this would result in significant cost savings and lower energy consumption while reducing the environmental impact. Consequently, we expect our joint retrofit solutions can be competitively priced for potential widespread adoption by the industry. We look forward to working with our colleagues at SES to establish U-GAS(R) as the technology of choice for China''s nitrogenous fertiliser industry in terms of the feedstock transformation."
SES provides technology, equipment and engineering services for the conversion of low rank, low cost coal and biomass feed stocks into energy and chemical products. Its strategy is to create value through providing technology and equipment in regions where low rank coals and biomass feed stocks can be profitably converted into high value products through its proprietary U-GAS(R) fluidised bed gasification technology, which SES licenses from the Gas Technology Institute. U-GAS(R) gasifies coal cost effectively, without many of the harmful emissions normally associated with coal combustion plants. The primary advantages of U-GAS(R) relative to other gasification technologies are (a) greater fuel flexibility provided by the ability of SES to use all ranks of coal (including low rank, high ash and high moisture coals, which are significantly cheaper than higher grade coals), many coal waste products and biomass feed stocks; and (b) the ability of SES to operate efficiently on a smaller scale, which enables the construction of plants more quickly, at a lower capital cost, and, in many cases, in closer proximity to coal sources. SES currently has offices in Houston, Texas, and Shanghai, China.
ZEP is a leader in China in the areas of engineering consultation, engineering design, project management contracting and general engineering contracting. The firm has certified qualifications in consultation (1st Class), engineering design (1st Class), engineering management (1st Class), and bidding agency (1st Class). ZEP was founded in 2002 with direct support from relevant state departments to assist with the development needs of the Chinese market. The management team has in-depth industry knowledge and broad based engineering management experience.