據(jù)阿拉伯貿(mào)易網(wǎng)2023年6月28日阿布扎比報(bào)道，在日前召開(kāi)的2023中東硫會(huì)議（MEScon）上參與調(diào)查問(wèn)卷的92%的商業(yè)和技術(shù)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者表示，含硫碳?xì)浠衔镌谀茉崔D(zhuǎn)型中發(fā)揮著重要作用。

此次會(huì)議由阿布扎比國(guó)家石油公司（Adnoc）主辦，由全球大宗商品商業(yè)智能公司CRU和含硫碳?xì)浠衔锖土驅(qū)I(yè)咨詢公司UniverSUL Consulting（UniverSUL）組織，會(huì)議討論了硫行業(yè)面臨的最緊迫的機(jī)遇和挑戰(zhàn)。

人們普遍認(rèn)為，含硫碳?xì)浠衔飳⒃谀茉崔D(zhuǎn)型中發(fā)揮重要作用，這標(biāo)志著人們不再認(rèn)為硫是碳?xì)浠衔锛庸み^(guò)程中的低價(jià)值副產(chǎn)品。

硫的作用

考慮到硫在農(nóng)業(yè)中的作用，當(dāng)被問(wèn)及能源轉(zhuǎn)型中含硫碳?xì)浠衔锏淖畲髾C(jī)遇時(shí)，49%的受訪者認(rèn)為硫可以供應(yīng)給化肥行業(yè)，以支持人口增長(zhǎng)和世界糧食供應(yīng)的穩(wěn)定，這或許并不令人意外。

但有趣的是，近四分之一（23%）的受訪者表示，硫化氫可以作為生產(chǎn)氫氣的原材料，最終可能成為替代化石燃料的重要手段。

UniverSUL總經(jīng)理Angie Slavens評(píng)論道：“這一發(fā)現(xiàn)反映了行業(yè)內(nèi)部對(duì)該事件的明確看法，以及行業(yè)所理解的現(xiàn)實(shí)。也就是說(shuō)，硫?qū)⒗^續(xù)是我們未來(lái)的重要組成部分，從化肥到一般工業(yè)，再到電動(dòng)汽車電池，各行各業(yè)都對(duì)硫有需求——所有這些都是確保公正能源轉(zhuǎn)型的關(guān)鍵。鑒于中東地區(qū)將繼續(xù)在硫供應(yīng)中發(fā)揮越來(lái)越重要的作用，在中東舉辦此次會(huì)議至關(guān)重要?！?/p>

對(duì)硫的依賴

調(diào)查受訪者認(rèn)為市場(chǎng)對(duì)硫的依賴日益增加；70%的受訪者認(rèn)為，硫的長(zhǎng)期短缺對(duì)世界的危害要大于長(zhǎng)期供應(yīng)過(guò)剩。有趣的是，84%的受訪者無(wú)法想象未來(lái)全球硫供應(yīng)不再由石油和天然氣回收主導(dǎo)，因?yàn)槟壳笆秃吞烊粴庹既蛄蚬?yīng)的95%以上。

CRU硫和硫酸業(yè)務(wù)首席分析師Peter Harrisson表示：“這一發(fā)現(xiàn)表明，未來(lái)幾年行業(yè)將采取謹(jǐn)慎的平衡措施?！彼a(bǔ)充說(shuō)：“對(duì)硫的需求沒(méi)有減弱的跡象。事實(shí)上，需求還在增加。盡管與此同時(shí)，全球?qū)稍偕茉吹年P(guān)注也在增加，這反過(guò)來(lái)又阻礙了硫的生產(chǎn)。為了確保這些可持續(xù)發(fā)展的努力繼續(xù)下去，需要在效率和工藝方面進(jìn)行投資，以降低當(dāng)前油氣生產(chǎn)的碳強(qiáng)度，同時(shí)探索新的工藝方案和技術(shù)，使硫進(jìn)入市場(chǎng)的方式多樣化。”

多個(gè)主題

2023MEScon會(huì)議探討了多個(gè)主題，舉辦了小組討論，海報(bào)展及專題報(bào)告，研討會(huì)和技術(shù)展示，會(huì)議的主要主題包括： 

* 展望硫化氫在能源轉(zhuǎn)型中的新價(jià)值

* 邁向硫的凈零回收

* 對(duì)資產(chǎn)壽命和性能的操作考慮和設(shè)計(jì)創(chuàng)新

* 可持續(xù)地達(dá)到二氧化硫排放目標(biāo)

此次會(huì)議在阿布扎比的康拉德阿提哈德大廈舉行，吸引了來(lái)自23個(gè)國(guó)家89家公司超過(guò)650名與會(huì)者。下一次年會(huì)將于2024年5月舉行。

李峻 譯自 阿拉伯貿(mào)易網(wǎng)

原文如下：

92pc believe sour hydrocarbons have role in energy transition

Sour hydrocarbons have a role to play in the energy transition, according to 92% of business and technical leaders surveyed at The Middle East Sulphur Conference (MEScon) 2023.

Hosted by Adnoc and organised by global commodities business intelligence company CRU, and sour hydrocarbon and sulphur specialist consulting firm UniverSUL Consulting (UniverSUL), the conference debated the most pressing opportunities and challenges that lay ahead for the sulphur industry. 

The overwhelming sentiment that sour hydrocarbons will play an important role in the energy transition signals a departure from the perception of sulphur being a low-value by-product of hydrocarbon processing. 

Sulphur's role

When questioned as to the greatest opportunities for sour hydrocarbons in the energy transition, perhaps unsurprisingly, given sulphur’s role in the agriculture industry, 49% cited its supply to the fertiliser industry to support population growth and stabilisation of world food supply. 

Interestingly, nearly one quarter (23%) said H2S could serve as a raw material for the production of hydrogen, which may eventually become an important means of replacing fossil fuels in hard-to-abate industries.  

Angie Slavens, Managing Director at UniverSUL commented: “This finding reflects a clear perception from the event and a reality understood by the industry. That is, that sulphur will continue to be a vital part of our future, with its demand throughout a huge range of industries, from fertilisers to general industry to EV batteries – all key to ensuring a just energy transition. Hosting the event in the Middle East is essential, given the increasingly significant role the region will continue to play in sulphur supply.” 

Storage

Survey respondents pointed to an increasing reliance on sulphur, with 70% believing that a prolonged sulphur shortage would be more detrimental for the world than a prolonged oversupply. Interestingly though, 84% could not envision a future where global sulphur supply is not dominated by recovery from oil and gas, given currently it accounts for more than 95% of sulphur supply. 

“This insight exemplifies a careful balancing act that will unfold in the industry for years to come,” said Peter Harrisson, Principal Analyst for Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid at CRU. He added: “The demand for sulphur shows no sign of letting up. In fact, it is increasing. Though at the same time, so too are global efforts to uptick focus on renewable energy sources, which in turn hampers sulphur production. To ensure these sustainability efforts stay on course, investment is required in efficiencies and processes to lower carbon intensity of current oil and gas production, while exploring novel process schemes and technologies that will diversify how sulphur comes to market."

Multiple topics

MEScon 2023 explored multiple topics, hosting panel discussions, poster sessions/spotlights, workshops and technical showcases on key themes including: 

*Envisioning new value for H2S in the energy transition 

*Moving towards net zero in sulphur recovery 

*Operation considerations and design innovations for asset longevity and performance 

*Meeting SO2 emissions targets sustainably 

The event took place at the Conrad, Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, and welcomed more than 650 attendees from 89 companies and 23 countries. The annual conference will take place once again in May 2024.