Nedmag, TIMAB Magnesium Partner Up on New Solution for Scrubbers

Magnesium Producers Nedmag and TIMAB Magnesium have launched a strategic partnership for development and commercialization of magnesium hydroxide in marine gas scrubber systems.

Ahead of the IMO 2020 sulphur cap, the two companies have jointly developed a magnesium hydroxide product called MH53S MARE to offer vessel owners, operators and their crews the alkali source for their scrubber operations.

As informed, MH53S MARE combines alkali power with high purity and best-in-class stability properties. Contrary to alternative alkali sources, MH53S MARE is a non-hazardous material, which is said to contribute positively to crew safety.

After several years of successful use of MH53S MARE on board several vessels, the duo intends to bring this solution to the industry on a global scale. By combining their strengths, the two partners aim at improving further technical support as well as optimizing supply chain options available to each single vessel operator, all over the world. On top, production capacity at Nedmag doubled in 2018, with additional expansion planned to support the industry’s growing demand.

In the framework of this partnership, TIMAB Magnesium handles the distribution of MH53S MARE to the maritime industry, with Nedmag supporting the development of this environmentally friendly solution from a technical point of view.

“This approach fits very well in the vision of our company… With TIMAB Magnesium we have found the right partner to establish MH53S MARE as the reference in marine gas scrubbers,” Alex Medendorp, Sales and Marketing director of Nedmag, said.

“We are extremely proud to contribute to a solution for the SOx emission challenge faced by the maritime industry,“ François Mazaré, Industrial & Environmental Applications Director with TIMAB Magnesium added.

Since January 2015, regulations over sulphur oxides (SOx) emission from the marine industry have been significantly tightened, in Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) especially. The new set of regulations will come into force on January 1, 2020, governing all oceans and seas of the globe.

Among the technical alternatives available to the maritime industry to face this environmental challenge, scrubber systems are due to play a prominent role by dramatically reducing SOx content in vessels’ exhaust.

Established in 1981, Nedmag is a Netherlands-based producer of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride.

TIMAB Magnesium is a French producer and distributor of magnesium products for agriculture, refractories and industrial and environmental applications.