EuroChem launches one of the largest sulfuric acid plants in Kazakhstan

May 27, 2026 - The Company has put into operation a sulfuric acid production plant in the Zhambyl Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The facility ranks among the largest of its kind in the country with an annual design capacity of 800,000 tonnes. The plant’s products will be used both for the EuroChem’s chemical complex under construction and to meet the needs of the domestic market in Kazakhstan.  The launch of the plant is Phase II of EuroChem’s large-scale investment project in Kazakhstan. In Phase I, the Company launched a phosphate ore mining and processing complex with an annual capacity of 840,000 tonnes. The final Phase III will be the launch in 2027 of a chemical complex for the production of mineral fertilizers and industrial products. Total investments exceed $1 billion, while total annual output upon completion of all Phases will be more than 1 million tonnes.  The project is being implemented under the Unified Industrialization Map of Kazakhstan.

"The project is fully aligned with the strategic goals set by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to develop the manufacturing industry, diversify the economy and ensure the country’s economic self-sufficiency. The launch of high-tech production facilities serves as a prime example of strengthened industrial cooperation and strategic partnership between our nations. I am confident that once the project reaches it’s full capacity, it will make a substantial contribution to the economic development of Kazakhstan", (Yersaiyn Nagaspayev Minister of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan)

Following the completion of all Phases, the Zhambyl Region will have one of the few full-cycle chemical production facilities in the world, where raw material extraction, processing and production of finished goods are integrated into a single production chain.  The complex’s products will be in demand not only in Kazakhstan but also across other countries in Central Asia, China and European markets. 

"The project implements state-of-the-art high-tech solutions that guarantee quality and safety. EuroChem intends to continue investing in the development of its production facilities and strengthening its partnership with the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan" (Igor Georgiadi CEO of EuroChem Karatau)

The project is significantly important for the social and economic development of the region. Total tax revenues to the budget of Kazakhstan have already reached approximately 70 billion tenge during the implementation of the project. Upon completion of all Phases, over 1,200 jobs will be created within the Company, with at least an equal number in related service and logistics organizations. Since 2012, EuroChem has invested approximately $29 million in the development of social infrastructure of the Zhambyl Region, including renovations of residential buildings, schools, healthcare facilities and urban infrastructure.

May 18, 2026 - Jin Xun Resources (03636) announced that, in line with business development needs, to enhance the supporting facilities of the copper and cobalt smelting industrial chain in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), reduce production costs, and improve operational performance, its subsidiary Jin Xun Congo (DRC) Mining Co., Ltd. plans to invest in and construct the Jin Xun Congo Copper and Cobalt Smelting Supporting Sulfuric Acid Plant Project. The project is located in Kolwezi City, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The total investment for the project is approximately RMB 90 million, with a construction period of about 12 months. Funding will be self-raised by the subsidiary, Jin Xun Congo (DRC) Mining Co., Ltd. According to a report by Zhitong Finance, Jinxun Resources (03636) announced that, in line with business development needs, in order to improve the supporting facilities for the copper and cobalt smelting industry chain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), reduce production costs, and enhance operating performance, its subsidiary, Jinxun Congo (DRC) Mining Co., Ltd., plans to invest in and construct the Jinxun Congo (DRC) Copper and Cobalt Smelting Supporting Sulfuric Acid Plant Project. The project is located in Kolwezi City, DRC. The total investment for the project is approximately RMB 90 million, with a construction period of about 12 months. Funding will be self-raised by the subsidiary, Jinxun Congo (DRC) Mining Co., Ltd.  Specific planning, implementation, adjustments, and other matters related to the investment and construction will be steadily advanced by the management team of the subsidiary, Jinxun Congo (DRC) Mining Co., Ltd., based on actual conditions. During the implementation of this project, if the company makes adjustments to the project’s investment and construction content in response to macro policies, market conditions, or the company's actual needs, it will follow the relevant provisions of the Articles of Association, the Governance Rules for Listed Companies on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ) system, and the Information Disclosure Rules for Listed Companies on the NEEQ system, and fulfill corresponding decision-making procedures and information disclosure obligations.  This investment represents a key supporting project for the copper and cobalt smelting initiative. Once operational, it will achieve self-sufficiency in sulfuric acid, significantly reduce raw material procurement costs, extend the industrial chain, and enhance comprehensive competitiveness, aligning with the company’s overseas resource-focused development strategy.

May 1, 2026 - Ecovyst Inc., a leading provider of virgin sulfuric acid and regenerated sulfuric acid products and services ("Ecovyst"), announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Calabrian sulfur dioxide and related sulfur derivatives business ("Calabrian") from INEOS Enterprises for a purchase price of $190 million, subject to certain customary adjustments. Through its manufacturing facilities in Port Neches, Texas and Timmins, Ontario, Canada, Calabrian is a leading producer of sulfur dioxide and related sulfur derivatives in North America, serving key end uses including mining, water treatment and specialty chemical production. Following closing, the acquisition is expected to expand Ecovyst's existing product and service offering through further expansion into the sulfur dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sodium thiosulfate and sodium metabisulfite product groups. The transaction is targeted to close by the end of second quarter of 2026, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. 

"The Calabrian acquisition aligns with our strategy to deliver shareholder value by leveraging our sulfur chemistry expertise, while also diversifying our portfolio and further expanding our presence in key end use segments such as mining," said Kurt J. Bitting, Ecovyst's Chief Executive Officer. "Ecovyst is already an established producer of sodium bisulfite, and Calabrian's sulfur dioxide and other sulfur derivative product offerings share meaningful end-use, customer, and sulfur-chemistry overlap with Ecovyst, positioning us to integrate Calabrian's product portfolio onto a familiar commercial and operational footprint. Similar to our existing businesses, Calabrian has a highly experienced and engaged management team, and a diverse base of long-standing, blue-chip customers, with a high degree of recurring sales under significant long-term contracts. In addition, the Calabrian business is characterized by strong cash generation and Adjusted EBITDA margins that are expected to be accretive to Ecovyst's portfolio," Bitting added.  

Ashley Reed, Chairman of INEOS Enterprises said, "INEOS Calabrian has been part of INEOS Enterprises for the past ten years, during which time it has delivered significant improvements in safety, operational performance and financial results. This transaction, valued at $190 million, subject to certain customary adjustments, reflects our disciplined approach to portfolio management — acquiring businesses, improving them at pace, and realizing value.

Calabrian is a strong, well-positioned semi-specialty chemicals business. However, it is not a core fit within INEOS's long-term portfolio. Ecovyst is well placed to take the business forward and support its next phase of growth".

"Consistent with our disciplined capital allocation strategy, we intend to fund the Calabrian acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and proceeds of new debt financing," said Mike Feehan, Ecovyst's Chief Financial Officer. "Given Calabrian's Adjusted EBITDA profile, with trailing twelve-month Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $23.7 million, we expect our combined net debt leverage ratio would be approximately 2x at close of the transaction. The transaction reflects a purchase multiple of approximately 8.0x trailing twelve-month Adjusted EBITDA, which we expect to step down to below 7.0x as identified synergies are fully realized over the three years following close," said Feehan.

May 1, 2026 - Taxpayers look set to provide more funding amid concerns for the future of more than 1000 smelter workers in Port Pirie as a $135 million assistance package expires today. Premier Peter Malinauskas with the antimony produced at Nystar in Port Pirie earlier this year.  Uncertainty has emerged at Nyrstar for workers as a rescue package for its smelters in South Australia and Tasmania runs out today, taxpayers looking on the line for more funding support.  Premier Peter Malinauskas said he was “hopeful that by close of business today, we’ll see a renewed position from the three governments that are contributing to this effort for Nyrstar’s consideration over the coming days and weeks ahead”.  “As it stands right now, those negotiations are ongoing and we have not yet reached a final resolution with Nyrstar,” Malinauskas said.  “This is a question of national capability to be able to produce critical minerals and if we can’t do this for ourselves as a country, then we don’t have the ability to participate in the economy of tomorrow.  “It could be exactly the same as us giving up our fuel refining capacity over the last 15 years which we now look back on with regret. Let’s not make the same mistake with the nation’s smelting capacity.”

The Port Pirie plant is one of the world’s largest multi-metals smelters, processing and refining lead, silver, zinc fume, copper matte and by-products such as sulphuric acid.  In August 2025, the state, federal and Tasmanian governments stepped in to pledge $135 million to a bail out of Port Pirie’s metal smelter and Nyrstar’s zinc refinery in Hobart.  The state government invested $55 million with the Commonwealth spending $57.5 million and the Tasmanian government contributing the remaining $22.5 million.

The 130-year-old smelter at Port Pirie was struggling financially prior to the joint investment in 2025, with Nyrstar’s Singaporean owner Trafigura calling for government support in order to stay afloat.  Nyrstar is a major employer in the region, with around 1,050 workers at the Port Pirie facility, representing approximately 10 per cent of the local workforce.  In February, Nyrstar sent its first shipment of antimony to an east coast Australian manufacturer and expressed plans to export to Europe, Asia and the United States, with Malinauskas saying the milestone shipment was the start of the smelter reaching its export potential.  Federal Science, Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres said in February the achievement “shows the value of government backing Aussie manufacturing and minerals processing capabilities to boost regional Australia’s role in the global critical mineral supply chain”.  “This is a great example of what can be achieved when we leverage Australia’s abundant natural resources, skilled workforce, existing facilities and innovative research to maximise opportunities,” Ayres said.

Antimony production began as a trial in late 2025, with Nystar planning to ramp up production to 2000 tonnes per year, and eventually 5000 tonnes per year by 2028.  Liberal spokesperson Ben Hood said the Premier “must explain what he and Anthony Albanese are doing to ensure the future of the Upper Spencer Gulf”.  “Our heart goes out to those 800 people in Port Pirie and the 500 people in Tasmania who are not only suffering through a fuel crisis and a cost-of-living crisis but are now wondering what’s happening with their jobs,” Hood said.  “We have a state Labor Government and we have a Federal Labor Government, and they need to be getting around the table to ensure that those 800 people in Port Pirie will have a job and that we have sovereign capacity here in Australia to produce antimony out of Nyrstar.”

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.