Primus Green Energy, Inc., a gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology and commercial solutions company that transforms methane and other hydrocarbon gases into methanol and gasoline, announced plans to develop and deliver a 160 MT per day methanol plant to an operating site in Alberta, Canada.
Primus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with an Alberta-based capital and operating partner. Production of methanol from the plant will begin in the first quarter of 2018 for regional distribution. The methanol produced will be utilized by Alberta’s natural gas industry – primarily by natural gas producers and processors in the Montney and Duvernay natural gas fields.
Adhering to the company’s local production strategy, the standardized modular GTL system will convert low-cost feedstock from Alberta natural gas fields into methanol, thus saving natural gas producers and processors in the region on production and transportation costs of methanol, while also improving the value of the natural gas feedstock. As a result, the systems are cost-competitive with large-scale world-class methanol plants.
In addition to its Marcellus plant announced earlier this year, Primus plans to deliver up to three additional methanol plants in North American regional markets with capacities ranging from 160 MT per day to 640 MT per day, all of which will follow its low-cost standardized design and facilitate local production.
“We are excited to bring our technology to the two most prolific natural gas basins in North America: The Marcellus/ Utica in the United States and the Montney/Duvernay in Canada ,” said George Boyajian, chief commercial officer of Primus Green Energy. “This project represents the expansion of Primus’ distributed methanol production strategy in North America, delivering a high-quality product for regional clients and utilizing Alberta’s large supply of cost-advantaged natural gas. Our technology allows for the reduction of transportation costs while providing the natural gas industry in Alberta with a stable and locally-responsive supply of methanol.”