US-based alternative fuel producer Nacero has nominated Haldor Topsøe to supply engineering work for a coming facility in Casa Grande, Arizona, that synthesizes gasoline from natural gas, the Danish catalysis and chemical company informs in a press statement.

The forthcoming plant will carry a price tag of roughly USD 3 billion and will feature a daily production capacity of 35,000 barrels.

The final investment decision has yet to be made, but Haldor Topsøe has received preliminary orders for hardware, catalysts and services to the project.

The Danish company won the order by virtue of its Tigas technology that has been under development for 40 years, and which was deployed at a similar installation in Turkmenistan last year.

This facility is the only existing large-scale natural gas-to-gasoline plant in world – but not for long.

Utilize surplus gas

The concept will make use of large volumes of natural gas frequently burned off with no utility via flaring. These gas volumes will now instead be chemically converted into a less polluting form a gasoline that's slated to replace the conventional fuel used in many of today's cars. Tigas, for instance, contains no sulfur.

"We are proud that Nacero has made Tigas^TM their technology of choice in their ambitious plan to bring gasoline security and jobs to Arizona. This cutting-edge technology will help communities and producers monetize natural gas resources, and reduce imports by producing high-quality gasoline locally," writes Haldor Topsøe Executive Vice President Kim Knudsen in the press release.

Nacero's plant will produce more than 10,000 metric tons of methanol for later use as a gasoline precursor.

Construction is set to begin next year and reach completion in 2025. The plant will be first project developed by the nascent company Nacero.

English Edit: Daniel Frank Christensen

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