TotalEnergies has successfully commissioned a second BELCO® sulfur oxide (SOx) gas cleaning system at its Antwerp refinery in Belgium, marking another important milestone in its strategy to reduce industrial emissions and improve environmental performance. Developed by Elessent Clean Technologies, the integrated BELCO® scrubber officially entered commercial operation and is already delivering significant reductions in sulfur oxide emissions from the refinery's operations.
The newly installed scrubber is designed to treat flue gases generated by the refinery's fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, one of the largest sources of sulfur emissions in refinery operations. By efficiently removing sulfur compounds before gases are released into the atmosphere, the system enables the refinery to comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations while supporting TotalEnergies' long-term sustainability objectives.
This is the second BELCO® SOx scrubber installed at the Antwerp refinery, further strengthening the site's emissions control capabilities. The additional unit has enabled TotalEnergies to achieve the annual sulfur oxide emission limits required under the refinery's renewed environmental operating permit. The investment demonstrates the company's continued commitment to responsible refining operations and reducing its environmental footprint.
Ann Veraverbeke, Managing Director of TotalEnergies Antwerp, described the commissioning as a significant advancement in making the refinery more sustainable. She emphasized that the new scrubber represents a major step toward the site's long-term environmental ambitions while ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory standards.
The project was completed safely, within the planned schedule, and according to high-quality engineering standards. Teams from TotalEnergies and Elessent worked closely throughout construction, installation, and commissioning to ensure the smooth integration of the technology into the refinery's existing infrastructure. The successful startup also reinforces confidence in the long-term operational development of the Antwerp facility.
Samantha Presley, Vice President of Cleaner Refining at Elessent Clean Technologies, highlighted that the successful commissioning demonstrates the reliability and effectiveness of BELCO® gas cleaning technology in helping refineries meet demanding emissions standards. She also acknowledged TotalEnergies' confidence in Elessent's technology and expressed the company's commitment to supporting refinery decarbonization initiatives worldwide.
BELCO® offers a comprehensive portfolio of industrial gas cleaning technologies, including wet scrubbers, SHELL third-stage separator systems, and NOx reduction solutions. The company's wet scrubbing technology is recognized globally for controlling sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate emissions from refinery units, boilers, fired heaters, and fluid cokers. With more than 150 licensed installations worldwide, BELCO® systems have become a leading solution for refinery emission control and are increasingly being deployed ahead of carbon capture systems to improve overall greenhouse gas reduction performance.
Impact on Product and Chemical Commodity Prices
The commissioning of the second BELCO® SOx scrubber enhances the sustainability of petroleum products by enabling cleaner refinery operations while ensuring compliance with stringent environmental regulations. Stable production of gasoline, diesel, LPG, naphtha, and petrochemical feedstocks will continue without operational disruptions, supporting long-term refinery reliability. Although the project strengthens emissions control and promotes wider adoption of advanced gas cleaning technologies, it is unlikely to significantly affect chemical commodity prices tracked by ChemAnalyst. Sulfur prices may see a marginally bearish-to-neutral impact due to improved recovery, while propylene, benzene, toluene, xylene, naphtha, ethylene, and polyolefin prices are expected to remain largely stable.
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