Frontieras North America Appoints Robert Portz as VP of Operations and Engineering for West Virginia Plant

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(TM) 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 comes as Frontieras advances toward building its first commercial-scale plant, which aims to demonstrate the economic viability of converting coal into clean-burning fuels without generating waste. Portz’s experience in refinery construction and operations is expected to be critical in moving the project from design to reality.

“We are thrilled to welcome Robert to our executive team,” said a company spokesperson. “His extensive background in refining and project execution will be invaluable as we move forward with our flagship facility.”

Frontieras North America is an energy and environmental technology company focused on delivering abundant, affordable energy through market-driven innovation. The company’s FASForm process represents a potential shift in how solid hydrocarbons are utilized, offering a path to produce hydrogen and other products while minimizing environmental impact.

The planned West Virginia facility is part of a broader trend of investment in advanced coal conversion technologies, which aim to create new markets for coal amid declining use for power generation. If successful, Frontieras’ process could help revitalize coal regions by providing jobs and producing valuable commodities.

For more information about Frontieras North America, visit www.frontieras.com.