WPU Plans Major Chemical Plastic Recycling Facility in Rotterdam
WPU, Vitol’s plastics recycling business, is set to build a new chemical recycling facility for end-of-life plastics at the Port of Rotterdam. With an 80,000 tonnes/year capacity, it will significantly boost WPU's total to 100,000 tonnes/year. Utilizing proven pyrolysis technology, the plant will convert plastic waste into pyrolysis oil, a circular feedstock for new plastics and chemicals, aiming for lower carbon intensity and addressing plastic waste, pending regulatory approvals.
WPU, Vitol’s plastics recycling business, plans to construct one of Europe’s largest chemical recycling facilities for end-of-life plastics at the Port of Rotterdam, situated next to Vitol’s refinery, VPR. This new plant will boast an annual processing capacity of 80,000 tonnes of post-consumer plastic, elevating WPU’s total recycling capacity to 100,000 tonnes per year, complementing its existing 20,000 tonnes/year plant in Denmark. The facility will employ WPU’s proprietary batch pyrolysis technology to transform end-of-life plastic into pyrolysis oil. This oil will function as a circular feedstock for producing circular chemicals, intermediates, and new plastics, targeting a lower carbon intensity than traditional fossil naphtha. This development comes amid increasing demand for circular feedstocks and supportive European policies for higher recycled content and decarbonization within petrochemical value chains. Jeffrey van Geloof, CEO of WPU, underscored the project's importance for WPU's growth and scaling its technology in Europe. Tom Baker, Vitol’s global head of naphtha, highlighted its role in combating plastic waste, expanding alternative raw materials for petrochemicals, and reducing the carbon intensity of plastic manufacturing. The plant will integrate advanced furnace technology designed to minimize emissions and energy use, mirroring successful deployments at Vitol’s VPR refinery. The project’s commencement is contingent upon obtaining all relevant regulatory approvals and stakeholder consultation.
