WPU (Vitol) to build 80,000 t/yr chemical plastics recycling plant in Rotterdam
- WPU (Vitol) will build an 80,000 t/yr chemical recycling plant for post-consumer end-of-life plastics alongside Vitol’s VPR refinery in Rotterdam.
- The plant will use batch pyrolysis to convert plastics into pyrolysis oil, a circular feedstock that can substitute for fossil naphtha.
- WPU already operates a 20,000 t/yr pyrolysis plant in Denmark that is running near full capacity.
- Vopak will repurpose about 20,000 cbm at Europoort for pyrolysis oil storage and handling, integrating with existing naphtha storage.
Project summary
WPU (Vitol) plans a chemical recycling plant in Rotterdam alongside its VPR refinery with a capacity of 80,000 tonnes/year to process post-consumer end-of-life plastics.
Technology and output
The facility will use batch pyrolysis to convert plastic waste into pyrolysis oil, a circular feedstock for producing chemicals, intermediates and new plastics that can substitute for fossil-derived naphtha.
Operational precedent
WPU operates a 20,000 t/yr pyrolysis plant in Denmark that is running near full capacity, demonstrating the technology at commercial scale.
Integration and infrastructure
Locating the plant alongside VPR allows direct connection to existing industrial infrastructure; the design includes furnace technology to reduce emissions and energy use, and Vopak will repurpose about 20,000 cbm at Europoort for pyrolysis oil storage integrated with its naphtha hub.
Source: Port of Rotterdam