NEXTCHEM wins €210 million contract for Mexico’s low-carbon methanol plant using CO2 capture and green hydrogen technologies.
MAIRE (MAIRE.MI) has announced that its sustainable technology subsidiary, NEXTCHEM, has secured a significant contract valued at approximately €210 million. The agreement involves providing basic engineering services and delivering essential proprietary equipment for the Pacifico Mexinol ultra-low carbon methanol project, located in Sinaloa, Mexico. This landmark project will utilize NEXTCHEM’s proprietary NX AdWinMethanol® Zero technology, which combines carbon capture systems with green hydrogen utilization to produce sustainable methanol with nearly zero emissions.
The Pacifico Mexinol plant is designed to produce 2.1 million tons of methanol annually, of which about 15% will meet the European ISCC-EU Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) certification standards. The agreement was signed between NEXTCHEM’s subsidiary, KT Tech, and Samsung E&A Co., Ltd., which has been appointed as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor. The signing event was attended by dignitaries and high-ranking officials from the Mexican federal, state, and local governments, as well as ambassadors from Italy, Korea, and the United States, and senior leaders from the companies participating in the project.
Jointly developed by Texas-based Transition Industries and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, the Pacifico Mexinol project is a major industrial initiative with a total estimated investment exceeding USD 3.3 billion. A consortium comprising various third-party entities will execute the project. Upon completion, which is expected in 2029, the plant will become the largest single facility in the world dedicated to producing ultra-low carbon methanol. It is anticipated to produce approximately 350,000 metric tons of certified RFNBO methanol and an additional 1.8 million metric tons of low-carbon methanol derived from natural gas with integrated carbon capture systems.
The scope of NEXTCHEM’s contract includes not only the basic engineering and supply of core proprietary technologies and components but also on-site assistance, and support during commissioning, start-up, and operations. The deal is subject to a final investment decision (FID), which is anticipated to be made in the fourth quarter of 2025.
NEXTCHEM’s NX AdWinMethanol® Zero technology plays a central role in achieving the project’s ultra-low emissions targets. The system captures carbon dioxide and, when combined with green hydrogen, converts it into RFNBO-compliant methanol. This process drastically reduces the carbon footprint of methanol production and supports global climate goals by promoting low-emission fuel and chemical alternatives. The methanol produced will be used in numerous industries, including transportation fuels, plastics, construction materials, coatings, and automotive components.
Commenting on the development, Fabio Fritelli, Managing Director of NEXTCHEM, stated that this achievement marks the company’s largest single contract to date. He emphasized that the project is a strategic milestone, both for Mexico’s domestic energy and economic landscape and the global transition to low-carbon industrial solutions.
