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PyroGenesis Canada Inc., a Montreal-based high-tech company specializing in all-electric plasma processes and sustainable industrial solutions, announced Friday that material produced during the latest testing phase of its Fumed Silica Reactor (FSR) pilot plant has been successfully collected from the system’s product recovery unit, known as the baghouse. The announcement follows the company’s May 13 news release and a separate statement issued the same day by its client, HPQ Silicon Inc. The collected substance—believed to be fumed silica—has been sent to a third-party laboratory for analysis to verify its composition and purity. The pilot plant, developed by PyroGenesis for HPQ Silica Polvere Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of HPQ Silicon, has now entered a critical phase in which lab-scale assumptions are being tested at pilot scale. The main focus is to validate that the scale-up from lab to pilot operations can consistently replicate the high-quality fumed silica originally produced in the lab environment. If confirmed, the third-party results will validate three major assumptions: that the PyroGenesis process can reliably produce material collectable within the baghouse, that the product formed is indeed fumed silica as expected, and that any impurities present are both anticipated and manageable. “This is a welcomed result,” said P. Peter Pascali, president and CEO of PyroGenesis. “We anxiously await the results from the third-party lab to confirm, or otherwise, that we have achieved this key milestone.” Fumed silica is a widely used industrial material found in thousands of everyday products, including cosmetics, toothpaste, pharmaceuticals, adhesives, paints, thermal insulation, food additives, and even batteries. It is valued for its anti-caking, thickening, and stabilizing properties. The production of fumed silica from quartz by PyroGenesis fits within the company’s Commodity Security & Optimization vertical—one of its three strategic pillars, alongside Energy Transition and Emission Reduction and Waste Remediation. This vertical focuses on the development of advanced materials and technologies that enhance the efficient use of raw resources and improve the supply of critical minerals. Using proprietary plasma technology, PyroGenesis aims to develop sustainable and scalable solutions that meet the growing demand for cleaner, more reliable industrial processes. The current pilot plant results represent a step forward in this effort, with full-scale commercialization dependent on successful third-party validation of the collected material. Test results from the laboratory are expected in the coming days. PyroGenesis is a leading high-tech company specializing in the design, development, manufacturing and commercialization of advanced plasma technologies and sustainable industrial solutions. Focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the company offers economically viable alternatives to traditional, high-pollution processes. PyroGenesis has developed proprietary, patented plasma-based systems that are currently being evaluated and adopted by several multibillion-dollar companies across four major sectors: iron ore pelletization, aluminum production, waste management and additive manufacturing. The European Commission has granted unconditional approval for Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.’s (Adnoc) proposed €11.7 billion acquisition of German chemical manufacturer Covestro, marking a significant step in the UAE energy firm’s push into the global petrochemicals market. The deal, initially confirmed by both parties in October 2024, has now cleared one of its final regulatory hurdles under the European Union Merger Regulation. In a statement released on Thursday, the Commission concluded that the merger “would not raise competition concerns, given its limited impact on competition in the markets where the companies are active.” The investigation found that Adnoc and Covestro mainly operate at different levels of the chemical and petrochemical supply chain. According to the Commission, there is “no meaningful overlap between their respective activities.” It further stated that, post-transaction, the companies would not be in a position to restrict access for competitors—either to key raw materials or to a sufficient customer base. The clearance means the transaction can move forward without conditions, opening the door for integration efforts to begin. Adnoc, which had made earlier bids for Covestro as high as €13.5 billion, ultimately agreed to the €11.7 billion purchase price. The offer represents a 54% premium over Covestro’s closing share price on June 19, 2023—the day before media coverage of a potential transaction emerged—and a 21% premium to the company’s closing share price on June 23, 2024. As part of the agreement, Adnoc has committed to maintaining Covestro’s business operations and workforce. There are no planned closures, divestitures or major reductions to Covestro’s existing activities. The two companies have signed an investment agreement that includes Adnoc’s full support for Covestro’s long-term strategic direction, including its climate and sustainability goals. Covestro’s “Sustainable Future” strategy is focused on achieving climate neutrality for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. The company also aims to reduce its Scope 3 emissions to net zero by 2050. Adnoc’s support of these initiatives signals an ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility amid growing global scrutiny of emissions-intensive industries. The acquisition is part of a broader strategy by Adnoc to expand its downstream and chemicals portfolio. In March 2025, Adnoc and Austria’s OMV signed a binding agreement to merge their stakes in Borealis and Borouge, forming a new entity called Borouge Group International. The newly formed group is set to acquire Nova Chemicals for $13.4 billion, a move that will establish it as the world’s fourth-largest producer of polyolefins. With EU antitrust approval secured, the Covestro deal is now one step closer to completion. The acquisition not only strengthens Adnoc’s global presence but also aligns with the company’s aim to become a diversified and sustainable energy player. Covestro is a global leader in high-tech polymer materials, offering a diverse product portfolio that includes polyurethanes, polycarbonates, and specialty chemicals. |
