Swiss specialty chemicals company Clariant and licensing partner KBR have provided catalysts and technology, respectively, for two major ammonia projects in Indonesia. Further details on the projects, including locations, identities of the manufacturing companies and capacities, were not revealed.

Clariant did say, however, that start-up of the new plants is now underway, as planned. Awarded in 2015, the contracts for the projects are part of a strategic cooperation between Clariant’s catalysts business and US-based engineering contractor KBR.

The catalysts selected for the new plants include AmoMax 10 for ammonia synthesis, ReforMax 330 LDP and ReforMax 210 LDP for reforming as well as ShiftMax 120, ShiftMax 127 and ShiftMax 210 for high temperature shift and low temperature shift reactions.

Clariant said AmoMax 10, which is based on a wustite structure, offers more than 20% higher activity compared with conventional magnetite catalysts. As well as boosting energy savings and yields, AmoMax 10’s unique physical and chemical characteristics is said to allow a faster start of production and reduced natural gas consumption. The catalyst is already used in more than 100 ammonia plants worldwide.

“Partnering with Clariant enables us to not only provide our market-leading ammonia technology, but also the best catalysts to optimize the performance of the plant and deliver best value and operability,” said Avinash Malhotra, vice president of syngas technologies at KBR.