The National Company KazMunayGas (KMG) and the American firm W.R. Grace have discussed the potential for producing catalytic cracking catalysts in Kazakhstan, according to a press release from KMG.

Source: KazMunayGas (KMG)

The press release states that KazMunayGas's CEO, Askar Khasenov, met with Luis Cirihal, the President of Refining Technologies at W.R. Grace.

They discussed the ongoing activities of their joint venture, Grace Kazakhstan Catalysts LLP, and considered the possibility of establishing a catalytic cracking catalyst production facility in Kazakhstan.

KazMunayGas plans to assess the feasibility of using local raw materials, including rare-earth elements, for production. They aim to complete the project's feasibility studies by the end of this year.

W.R. Grace currently collaborates with Grace Kazakhstan Catalysts LLP, which supplies and tests catalytic cracking catalysts for several domestic refineries that meet international standards.

In 2022, the joint venture opened Kazakhstan's first specialized laboratory for testing oil refining industry catalysts in Atyrau. Catalysts play a crucial role in catalytic cracking, a key process in deep oil refining. This process requires high temperatures and pressures to break down petroleum products, and catalysts accelerate it, making them essential in oil refining technology.

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KazMunayGas, Kazakhstan's national operator, works in the exploration, production, processing, and transportation of hydrocarbons, representing the state's interests in the oil and gas industry.

W.R. Grace, established in 1854, is a leading provider of chemical products and materials. Operating in 40 countries worldwide, it is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and ranks among the largest US companies.