March 20, 2026 - BASF has started up the world’s first production plant for catalysts based on X3D^® technology at its Ludwigshafen site, Germany.  With the commissioning of this facility, BASF is scaling the additive manufacturing of catalysts to an industrial level and strengthening its leading role in innovative solutions for the chemical industry.  Utilising X3D technology, catalysts can be produced with optimally designed geometries that combine high mechanical stability with an open structure. This significantly reduces pressure drop in reactors while simultaneously increasing the catalytically active surface area. As a result, customers achieve higher reactor throughput and improved product quality at substantially lower energy consumption compared to conventional catalysts.  BASF has been supplying X3D catalysts to production plants for several internal and external customers for many years. The versatile technology can be applied to a broad range of catalyst materials, including precious and base metal catalysts as well as various support materials. The new production plant in Ludwigshafen provides the foundation for making this technology more widely available and for further shortening development and market introduction timelines.  In 2025, the Chinese-based fine chemical company An Hui Jintung filled its production plant with BASF’s sulfuric acid catalysts O4-115 X3D. “The plant started up smoothly, and plant performance has significantly improved compared to before. Production achieved a record high, generating substantial economic benefits for our company. We will continue our collaboration with BASF to promote catalyst upgrades and replacements across additional units,” said Eter Zhu, General Manager at An Hui Jintung.

Chinese, Jordanian firms ink deal to build sulfuric acid plant in S. Jordan

February 11, 2026 - Jordan's Indo-Jordan Chemicals Company Ltd, a subsidiary of Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC), on Wednesday signed a 193-million-U.S. dollar deal with China's East China Engineering Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (CNCEC-ECEC) to construct a concentrated sulfuric acid plant in southern Jordan.  According to a JPMC statement received by Xinhua, the plant will be constructed in the Shidiya area, with a designed annual production capacity of about 900,000 tons.  The project is scheduled to be completed within 30 months by CNCEC-ECEC and will be implemented in line with high international technical, engineering and environmental standards, the statement said.  Under the agreement, sulfuric acid produced at the plant will be used to support the expansion of the Jordanian company's phosphoric acid production, raising its annual output capacity from 330,000 tons to 550,000 tons.  JPMC Chairman Mohammad Thneibat said the deal reflects the company's continued efforts to expand investments and upgrade operations, in line with Jordan's broader drive to attract foreign investment and strengthen industrial competitiveness.  He noted that the project represents a strategic step for the company to enhance added value in the phosphate industry, increase production efficiency, and create job opportunities during both construction and operation phases.  For his part, Meng Chenzhou, CEO of CNCEC-ECEC, described the project as a model of industrial cooperation between Chinese and Jordanian companies, adding the company hopes to maintain long-term cooperation with its Jordanian partners to develop more projects at both the regional and international levels.

Chemical Spill Triggers Mass Fish Death in Kazakhstan

February 6, 2026 - Sulfuric acid may have caused a mass fish die-off in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, according to preliminary findings following laboratory tests of water samples taken from the Badam River.  Specialists detected elevated sulfate levels in the samples, pointing to an acidic environment that experts believe led to the death of aquatic life.   The pollution is suspected to be linked to an industrial discharge, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.  According to initial assessments, the acidic solution was released into a sewer pipe, which later ruptured. Due to the aggressive chemical composition of the wastewater, the discharge could not be stopped immediately, allowing contaminated runoff to flow into the river for several hours.  Authorities are now working to identify the enterprise responsible for the pollution. Liability will also extend to the organization that owns and maintains the damaged sewer infrastructure.  Environmental officials urged residents to treat nature responsibly and to promptly report any signs of environmental violations to the relevant services.  “Based on our analyses, specialists from the department have launched an inspection of Vodnye Resursy Marketing. It will later be determined which enterprise discharged the acidic solution. Even releasing acid into a sewer pipe is prohibited-it must be neutralized, and local treatment facilities must be in place,” said Akmaral Nysanbekova, head of the testing laboratory at Shymkent’s Department of Ecology.

February 5, 2026 - Cabinet has approved the introduction of a permit-based export system for sulphuric acid, aimed at ensuring sufficient supply for domestic industries and supporting the country’s copper production.  Zambia is one of the leading producers of sulphuric acid in the region; however, in August last year, the country experienced a shortage of the chemical, which is a critical input for the mining, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors.  The shortage resulted into a disruption of copper processing.  Minister of Information and Media, Cornelius Mweetwa, revealed at a briefing that, in a move to prevent a repeat of the shortage, Government has put measures in place to secure the local supply.  “Cabinet approved the issuance of a Statutory Instrument on the introduction of a permit-based export system on sulphuric acid, in order to ensure sustained availability for domestic industries, safeguard industrial output, and support Zambia’s copper production and economic growth agenda,” Mr Mweetwa said.  The permit system means companies cannot export sulphuric acid freely without approval. This ensures that enough of the chemical stays in the country to meet the needs of local industries that use the chemical.  “In August 2025, the country experienced a shortage of sulphuric acid, which had begun to disrupt production in copper processing.  “In light of the unresolved shortage of sulphuric acid, Cabinet has decided, going forward, to utilise a permit-based export regulation mechanism so as to address the critical issue of the local shortage of sulphuric acid,” Mr Mweetwa said.  He said that the permit-based approach is part of the government’s commitment to sustaining industrial growth and supporting Zambia’s strategic economic priorities.

Kazakhstan powers ahead in global uranium market

Port expansion in Chile clears first environmental hurdle

January 23, 2026 - Chile’s environmental evaluation agency SEA accepted to review a US$50 million (mn) proposal from port operator Terquim to expand a terminal in Mejillones municipality (Antofagasta region).  The project entails increasing the capacity of the terminal’s liquid fuel installations by adding two tanks each for sulfuric acid and diesel storage.  The sulfuric acid tanks will have capacity for up to 423m³ each, while the diesel tanks will handle up to 850m³ each, according to the environmental impact assessment (EIA) presented by Terquim.  Other works include incorporating equipment for the transference of green ammonia, including a system of three 1,500m pipelines: one for transferring the product, another for vapor recovery, and a third for cooling.  Lastly, the EIA proposes upgrades to the terminal’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) installations, such as a new septic pit with capacity for up to 10m³, two new 30m² warehouses for dangerous substances and hazardous waste respectively, and an expanded potable water distribution system.  Construction works are expected to start in April 2027.