Reuters Occidental Petroleums lowcarbon unit said on Tuesday it plans to construct and operate a pilot plant that would use humanmade carbon dioxide, instead of hydrocarbonsourced feedstocks, to produce bioethylene.

The pilot plant will be jointly developed by Occidentals venture capital arm, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC, and bioengineering startup, Cemvita Factory. It is expected to start functioning in 2022.

Bioethylene is currently made from bioethanol, which is made from sugarcane.

The new technology produces bioethylene from carbon dioxide, water and light, which helps lower costs and carbon emissions, Cemvitas Chief Executive Officer Moji Karimi said.

Ethylene, widely used in the chemical industry, is a component of products ranging from plastic films to PVC piping and coolants.

Interest in lowcarbon initiatives has grown in recent years, ranging from companies seeking to offset their climate impact to public officials worried about the slow pace of international agreements to cut emissions.

Oxy Low Carbon Ventures in 2019 had invested in Cemvita to look at biomanufacturing for Occidentals chemical unit.

Reporting by Rithika Krishna in Bengaluru; Editing by Amy Caren Daniel

Source Reuters