Frontieras North America has appointed Robert Portz as vice president of operations and engineering, the company announced. Portz brings more than 30 years of refining operations experience, including leadership roles at facilities operated by Ashland Oil, Hunt Refining Company, Sinclair Oil and PBF Energy. He previously helped build Wyoming Renewable Diesel Company under Sinclair and later served as technical manager at PBF Energy’s Toledo Refinery.
Frontieras said Portz will oversee facility operations development for its planned Mason County, West Virginia, flagship plant, including engineering coordination, construction oversight, workforce development and commissioning activities. The company is commercializing its patented FASForm™ Solid Carbon Fractionation process, a zero-waste technology designed to convert coal and other solid hydrocarbons into fuels, hydrogen, industrial carbon, sulfuric acid and fertilizer through a closed-loop process.
The appointment of Portz comes as Frontieras moves toward commercialization of its technology, which aims to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional coal utilization. With his extensive background in refining operations, Portz is expected to play a critical role in scaling the FASForm process from pilot to commercial scale. The company’s flagship plant in West Virginia represents a significant step in demonstrating the viability of the technology.
Portz’s experience includes management of complex refining units and process optimization. His work at Wyoming Renewable Diesel Company under Sinclair involved building a renewable diesel facility, showcasing his ability to handle new technology implementation. At PBF Energy’s Toledo Refinery, he served as technical manager, overseeing technical aspects of refining operations.
Frontieras North America is an energy and environmental technology company focused on delivering abundant, affordable, and available energy through profitable, market-driven innovation. The company’s FASForm process is designed to transform coal and other hydrocarbons into clean-burning fuels, hydrogen, industrial carbon, and agricultural products. The closed-loop process aims to minimize waste and environmental impact.
The hiring of Portz underscores Frontieras’ commitment to bringing experienced leadership to its operations as it advances toward construction of its first commercial facility. The company’s technology has potential implications for the coal industry and energy sector by offering a cleaner way to utilize solid hydrocarbons. For more information about Frontieras, visit the company’s website.
