Clariant and Lummus Secure Catalyst Contract for World's Largest PDH Facility

and Lummus Technology have secured the catalyst supply contract for a 1.2 million metric tons per annum propane dehydrogenation unit in Zhejiang Province, China, commissioned by Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Co. (ZPC). When operational, the facility will be the largest licensed PDH installation in the world.

The Process Configuration

Lummus contributes the licensed reactor and process design. Together, the two firms have refined this integrated package across more than 40 PDH projects selected globally since 2017.

The CATOFIN platform itself carries a six-decade performance record, with operating units consistently meeting or exceeding nameplate propylene output and delivering high selectivity. According to the announcement, Jace Wang, Vice President and Head of Propylene at Clariant, described the award as a defining moment for the technology. Romain Lemoine, Chief Business Officer at Lummus Technology, framed the selection as a reflection of proven performance and the depth of the partnership.

Commercial Context

The propylene produced at the Zhejiang unit will feed downstream petrochemical derivative production, including polypropylene, acrylonitrile, and propylene oxide. Additional propane feedstock will be sourced from ZPC's ongoing upstream refinery expansions.

Across Asia, propylene demand growth has driven a sustained wave of large-scale PDH investment. The ZPC contract positions CATOFIN as the catalyst of choice for the current generation of mega-scale builds, and reinforces the Clariant–Lummus offering as a unified commercial package for operators pursuing step-change capacity.

What to Track

• Commissioning milestones for the Zhejiang complex
• Whether CATOFIN-equipped units continue to capture the majority share of new PDH awards in China
• Propylene margin trends as additional mega-scale capacity comes online across the region