HIF Global, a leader in eFuels, has picked Johnson Matthey (JM) to supply the methanol technology for their new Paysandú eFuels project in Uruguay. This will be the largest e-methanol plant in South America. The plant will use green hydrogen and waste CO2 from an ethanol plant to produce e-methanol, a cleaner alternative to traditional methanol.
Johnson Matthey’s eMERALD technology is known for its ability to reduce the carbon footprint of methanol production. At the Paysandú facility, this technology will produce 700,000 tonnes of e-methanol each year. This e-methanol will meet the growing demand from the marine market and serve as a base to produce e-gasoline, helping to decarbonize over 150,000 vehicles.
This collaboration builds on the success of the Haru Oni eFuels facility in Chile, where Johnson Matthey’s technology has been used for over a year to produce methanol that is turned into gasoline.
HIF Global has more eFuels projects planned in the US, Tasmania, and Chile, with Johnson Matthey supporting these developments as well.
HIF Global will invest $4 billion in the Paysandú plant, the largest investment in Uruguay’s history. Construction is set to start in 2025, creating around 1,500 construction jobs and 300 permanent positions.
Johnson Matthey’s expertise in methanol synthesis and catalyst supply makes them a valuable partner for this project. “We have already shown that we can produce eFuels with green hydrogen and recycled CO2 at our Haru Oni facility using Johnson Matthey’s technology. This expanded partnership underscores the importance of long-term relationships in achieving our goals,” said a representative from HIF Global.
