Japan: Koura – Sojitz Partnership Selects Buss ChemTech’s Hydrogen Fluoride (HF) Technology for Its New HF Plant in Japan

• Buss ChemTech’s proven Hydrogen Fluoride production technology will play a crucial role in this strategically important project which will strengthen the Fluorine supply chain in Japan.

• Buss ChemTech has completed more than 30 plants globally based on its proprietary HF production technology from Fluorspar and contributed already to Japanese Fluorine production industry by providing its technologies to six (6) Clients for seven (7) production plants.

Mexichem Fluor Japan Ltd., the Japanese entity of Mexichem Fluor, S.A.de C.V. (“Koura”), has selected Buss ChemTech’s Hydrogen Fluoride Production Technology for its plant to be constructed in Hibikinada Oceanfront Industrial Park in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture in Japan.

The project is sponsored by the proposed joint venture between Koura and Sojitz Corporation. Japanese high-tech industries have been dependent on imports for Fluorine supply chain products. The project will play a critical role for Japanese semiconductor and lithium-ion battery industries and it has been selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan’s "Program for Promoting Investment in Japan to Strengthen Supply Chains".

Hydrogen Fluoride will be produced from acid grade Fluorspar which will be supplied from Koura’s mines in Mexico. Buss ChemTech’s technology will enable a high yield of Hydrofluoric Acid with efficient raw materials' consumption. Hydrofluoric acid purity will be tailored to meet the challenging requirements of the downstream Fluorine derivatives.

The largest capacity (53,000 metric tons per year) HF production line in the world, built in 2014 in Abu Dhabi, is based on Buss ChemTech’s HF production technology. Buss ChemTech also offers revolutionary technology that enables HF production from a raw material alternative to Fluorspar, i.e. Fluorosilicic Acid which is a by-product of Phosphoric Acid production.

About Buss ChemTech AG

Buss ChemTech is a well-established technology provider located in Pratteln, Switzerland. The company has more than six decades of experience in the field of Fluorine Chemistry including AlF3 and LiPF6. This is in addition to capabilities in various gas-liquid reaction technologies and Phosgenation technology. Buss ChemTech is owned by Ballestra Group, a leading technology provider in the chemicals, detergents, surfactants and in soap industries.