- The facility in Vlissingen will process 55,000 tons of mixed plastic waste annually.
- The project utilizes Alterra Energy's thermochemical liquefaction technology.
- Neste and Ravago aim to process over 200,000 tons of mixed waste plastic per year by 2030.
- The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.
Joint Venture for Chemical Recycling
Neste and Ravago plan to establish a joint venture to build an industrial facility for chemical recycling in North Sea Port, Vlissingen, the Netherlands. The facility will leverage the thermochemical liquefaction technology of Alterra Energy, a US-based company specializing in innovative chemical recycling technologies. The project aims to advance the commercialization of chemical recycling and is currently awaiting regulatory approval.
Combining Expertise
This partnership combines Ravago’s expertise in mechanical preparation of plastic waste, Alterra Energy’s proprietary liquefaction technology, and Neste’s expertise in hydrocarbon processing. The initial facility will have an annual processing capacity of about 55,000 tons of mixed plastic waste, equivalent to the plastic packaging waste generated by approximately 1.7 million average EU citizens per year. The long-term goal is to significantly increase processing capacity globally and develop the joint venture into a leader in chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste.
Strategic Progress
The investment is a continuation of the collaboration between Neste and Ravago, which began in 2019 with a target to process over 200,000 tons of mixed waste plastic per year by 2030. Since then, the companies have evaluated technologies, raw material markets, and built joint business cases to develop chemical recycling capacities. In 2020, Neste successfully conducted the first industrial trial runs with liquefied waste plastic at its oil refinery in Finland.
