Asahi Kasei, Mitsui, and Mitsubishi to Merge Ethylene Production

Decarbonization Initiative

Asahi Kasei, Mitsui Chemicals, and Mitsubishi Chemical have entered a basic agreement to decarbonize and optimize ethylene production in western Japan. They have been selected for the “Fiscal 2025 Support Program for Energy and Manufacturing Process Conversion in Hard-to-Abate Industries” by METI, focusing on biomass feedstock as an alternative to petroleum-derived resources.

Production Consolidation

The companies will establish a joint operating entity for two ethylene production facilities, discontinuing operations at the Asahi Kasei Mitsubishi Chemical Ethylene Corp. (AMEC) facility in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, and consolidating at the Osaka Petrochemical Industries, Ltd. (OPC) facility in Takaishi, Osaka, targeting fiscal 2030.

Technological Advancements

Using the HtA Support Program, an initial facility to produce ethylene, propylene, and other decarbonized chemicals from bioethanol with Revolefin™ technology will be installed at Asahi Kasei's Mizushima Works. After verifying equipment performance, the companies aim to start joint commercial production by fiscal 2034.

Site Modifications and Future Plans

Asahi Kasei and Mitsubishi Chemical will modify equipment at the Mizushima Plant and the Senboku Factory of OPC, which will serve as the consolidation site. The Mizushima Plant's ethylene production facility will be dismantled after production ends, and the companies will explore carbon-neutral uses for the vacated site.