The amino acid producer reports that the enhancement of the DL-methionine production facility on Jurong Island is progressing according to schedule.
Following a brief three-month shutdown in the fourth quarter of 2023, the MetAMINO production at the Singapore site has resumed operations at full capacity. However, Evonik anticipates the need for a shutdown of the second MetAMINO production plant at the complex in Q2 2024. This precautionary measure is deemed necessary as certain modifications cannot be efficiently carried out during regular day-to-day operations.
The upgrade is a pivotal component of Evonik's methionine asset strategy, with the company outlining how it is focused on ensuring a sustainable and secure global supply chain for the long term. The modifications are designed to enhance the efficiency of the facility's processes while concurrently reducing the carbon footprint of MetAMINO by 6%. Various initiatives, including the use of green hydrogen, energy integration, and circularity improvement actions, contribute to this sustainability goal.
Dr Dirk Hoehler, who heads up the amino acids business at Evonik's animal nutrition unit, emphasized the company's commitment to continually elevate the sustainability of its production plants. The upgrade, he continued, aligns with Evonik's science-based targets to curtail emissions, striving for a pathway consistent with limiting global warming to well below 2°C. It also aspires to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Evonik stressed how customers and partners throughout the food value chain will benefit from the upgrade, aligning with their sustainability goals.
US, European and Asian production hubs
The supplier’s two methionine plants in Singapore, operational since 2014 and 2019, respectively, play a crucial role in its global production network. Evonik manages two additional methionine production hubs in Mobile, Alabama, USA, and Antwerp, Belgium.
In parallel industry news, Adisseo, a major methionine producer, recently announced the strategic consolidation of its French DL-methionine production at the Roches-Roussillon industrial platform in the Isère region. This move comes as a response to challenging economic conditions, leading to the discontinuation of methionine production at its Commentry site since October 2022.
