The company is targeting strategic partnerships to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in the Middle East, aiming for significant investments in the energy sector, Dr Meritxell Vila-Fontes tells OGN

In an ambitious move that underscores its commitment to sustainability, MERYT Catalysts and Innovation has announced significant investments in the Middle East energy sector for 2024.

By forging strategic partnerships, the company aims to align its goals with those of the GCC countries, paving the way for a cleaner and more efficient energy landscape.

In an exclusive interview with OGN energy magazine, Dr Meritxell Vila-Fontes, the company’s Director, talks about how the establishment of a state-of-the-art catalyst production plant, in collaboration with a prominent local partner, marks a pivotal step in reducing reliance on imports and fostering local industrial growth.

MERYT's innovative catalyst technologies promise not only to enhance energy efficiency but also to support the region's transition towards a circular economy, setting the stage for a greener future.

Below are excerpts from the interview:

MERYT Catalysts and Innovation has announced plans for significant investments in the Middle East energy sector in 2024. Can you elaborate on the strategic partnerships you are forging and how they align with GCC countries goals?

We are in advanced discussions to establish a joint venture with a key regional partner to develop a world-class catalyst manufacturing plant.

This initiative aligns closely with the GCC’s focus on industrial growth, self-reliance, and sustainable development.

By manufacturing catalysts locally, we aim to reduce import dependency, enhance regional supply chains, and contribute to the creation of high-quality jobs.

Although we are a growing company, this step will position us as a key supplier of advanced catalysts for refineries, petrochemical plants, and chemical producers in the region, and we welcome collaboration opportunities to accelerate this growth.

In what specific ways does MERYT’s technology contribute to enhancing clean and efficient energy sources in the GCC region?

MERYT drives sustainability through advanced catalyst technology

Catalysts are the primary energy savers in industrial processes, and any improvement in catalyst technology directly results in significant energy savings, which in turn reduces emissions.

At MERYT, our advanced catalysts optimise refining and petrochemical processes, minimising energy consumption while lowering carbon emissions across the GCC region.

In the near future, we plan to manufacture catalysts that convert captured CO2 into methanol and other valuable products, supporting the circular economy.

This not only helps to reduce emissions but also provides an efficient pathway for creating sustainable chemical products, further supporting the region’s shift towards cleaner energy and circular economy.

What are the key challenges MERYT faces in deploying its innovative solutions for the energy industry across the GCC, and how are you addressing these challenges?

As a smaller company entering a competitive space, one of our primary challenges will be building a skilled workforce to support our manufacturing operations.

As the sector continues to evolve, having top talent is essential for driving innovation and maintaining operational excellence.

We are planning to launch comprehensive training programmes in collaboration with local universities and institutions to ensure a strong pipeline of qualified engineers and technicians who can support the region’s energy future and MERYT’s growth.

Additionally, we remain committed to staying at the cutting edge of technological advancements, ensuring our solutions meet the highest industry standards and drive progress in energy efficiency and sustainability.

Considering MERYT’s commitment to sustainability, how do your innovations in catalyst technology address personnel training needs within the industry?

At MERYT, we understand that the successful use of advanced catalyst technology goes hand-in-hand with proper training and support.

Our future training programmes will be aimed at enhancing the skills of catalytic unit operators at refineries and chemical plants, helping them not only to optimise the performance of our solutions but also to troubleshoot any operational issues they may encounter.

Technical support is a cornerstone of our approach, as we’ve been working with catalysts long before the founding of MERYT.

This deep experience allows us to provide practical, hands-on training that empowers plant operators to maintain efficiency, reduce downtime, and uphold sustainability goals by lowering energy consumption and emissions.

With the global shift towards renewable energy sources, how is MERYT Catalysts & Innovation adapting its R&D efforts to support this transition?

MERYT is adapting its R&D strategy to support the global energy transition by focusing on the development of cutting-edge catalysts and adsorbents that address critical sustainability challenges.

We are working on advanced catalysts for CO2 conversion into methanol and other valuable chemicals, as well as catalysts for steam reforming at lower temperatures and dry reforming. We also work with improvements in the production of biofuels.

These innovations aim to reduce carbon emissions while improving energy efficiency in key industrial processes.

Meanwhile, in the adsorbents area, we are developing new adsorbents for the purification of pyrolysis oil derived from plastic and waste residues.

This aligns with our broader efforts to contribute to cleaner industrial processes and reduce emissions.

Additionally, we are investing in Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) as efficient adsorbents for gas separation, carbon capture, and other clean energy applications.

These initiatives reflect our commitment to driving innovation and providing solutions that meet the demands of a more sustainable energy future.

Can you share details about any ongoing R&D projects aimed at developing catalysts for the conversion of CO2 into valuable products and their potential impact on carbon emissions reduction?

At MERYT Catalysts and Innovation, one of our key R&D projects is centered on developing advanced catalysts that convert captured CO2 into valuable chemicals like methanol.

These catalysts are designed to operate under optimised conditions, ensuring high conversion efficiency and selectivity.

We are also exploring catalysts that convert CO2 into other valuable products, such as olefins or syngas, which can be reintegrated into industrial processes.

By turning CO2 into useful raw materials, we are actively contributing to the circular economy, where waste is transformed into valuable inputs.

This approach not only helps industries reduce their carbon emissions but also creates a sustainable loop where CO2 becomes a resource for further production, enhancing both economic and environmental outcomes.

How does MERYT Catalysts and Innovation envision its role evolving in the next five years, particularly in the context of global energy transitions and technological advancements?

Over the next five years, MERYT aims to become one of the leading suppliers of catalysts and adsorbents in the GCC region.

Our objective is to support the autonomy of these countries by contributing to their industrial growth and helping to increase local value creation.

By offering high-quality, locally-sourced products, we help reduce dependence on imports and enhance local production capabilities.

We are committed to partnering with regional industries to drive economic development, foster innovation, and ensure that the GCC strengthens its position as a key player in the global energy market.

By Abdulaziz Khattak