September 19, 2024 14:53
The cornerstone ceremony for the new MoReTec-1 chemical recycling plant, designed to process polyolefinic waste, was held today at LyondellBasell’s Wesseling site in Germany.
The development of the plant has largely taken place in Ferrara, Italy, where a pilot facility has been operational since 2020.
Attendees at the event included German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst, and LyondellBasell CEO Peter Vanacker.
“Germany is a strong location for the chemical industry and the new plant in Wesseling represents the future viability of this industry. As the first large-scale industrial plant for chemical plastic recycling, it is a significant step towards a circular economy”, said Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “The German government is committed to strengthening and further enhancing Germany as a location for the chemical industry.”
The plant will process waste, predominantly polyolefin fractions—such as mixed fractions and multilayer packaging—through pyrolysis aided by catalysts, with a treatment capacity of 50,000 tons annually. The pyrolysis oil produced will replace fossil-based raw materials at the nearby cracker. The new plastic polymers that will be sold under the CirculenRevive brand.
Targeted startup for the new unit is set for 2026, as part of the company’s strategy to build a profitable Circular and Low Carbon Solutions business. The planned investment is in the range of several hundred million euros. LyondellBasell received a 40 million euro grant from the EU Innovation Fund for the project.
Additionally, a new integrated hub for sorting and treating mixed plastic waste is set to be constructed in nearby Knapsack, with part of the waste destined for mechanical and chemical recycling.
The MoReTec technology utilizes proprietary catalysis that lowers the process temperature, reducing energy consumption and increasing yield. The lower energy usage allows the process to be powered by electricity, including renewable sources, resulting in zero net greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike similar processes, LyondellBasell's system also recovers pyrolysis gas, further reducing direct CO2 emissions.
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