Project of the week
UPM Leuna Wood-Based Biochemicals Biorefinery (Germany)
Leuna, Germany · Commissioning & Start-up
UPM officially opened its Leuna biorefinery on 15 October, but the plant is still ramping up: so far only enzymatic hydrolysis and the lignin-based specialty chemicals have reached stable operation.UPM is now ramping...
Milestones this week
- BASF Cincinnati Alkyl Polyglucosides (APG) Production Expansion (United States) Started operating · 27 October 2026
- Heidelberg Materials Geseke GeZero CCS project (Germany) Put on hold · 22 October 2026
- Lilly Goochland bioconjugate API and drug product plant (United States) Construction started · 22 October 2026
- LAT Nitrogen Linz Ammonia Plant #2 KRES Revamp (Austria) Announced · 22 October 2026
- SKW Piesteritz Wittenberg Ammonia Plant 2 Efficiency Revamp (Germany) Announced · 22 October 2026
And 5 more projects. Follow every project in chemXplore →
Project and plant news
Biobased & Circular
- Heidelberg Materials pauses GeZero CCS project in Geseke Heidelberg Materials Geseke GeZero CCS project
- GC wins award for Bio‑Muconic Acid made from agricultural waste GC Bio-Muconic Acid 50,000-Litre Fermentation Pilot, Thailand
- Stora Enso and Shanshan Technology to co-develop lignin-derived hard carbon anodes Stora Enso and Shanshan Ningbo lignin-based hard carbon demo line
- BASF expands Alkyl Polyglucosides production in Cincinnati, Ohio BASF Cincinnati Alkyl Polyglucosides (APG) Production Expansion
- EnviTec Biogas advances Vara, Sweden biomethane plant construction Biogas Västra Skaraborg Vara biogas and bio-LNG plant
Energy
- ORLEN-backed Atlas CO₂ storage project in Norway wins €223m EU Innovation Fund grant Aker BP, ORLEN and Höegh Evi Atlas CO₂ Transport and Storage, Norwegian North Sea
- European Commission launches T‑MED Investment Platform with up to €4.5bn EFSD+ guarantees EETC Egypt Electricity Grid Modernization and Expansion
- Eni launches execution phase of Cronos gas project in Cyprus Eni-TotalEnergies Cronos Gas Field Development, Cyprus Block 6
- PETRONAS, TotalEnergies and Mitsui form JV to develop Southern CCS Hub storage offshore Malaysia PETRONAS–TotalEnergies–Mitsui Southern CCS Hub offshore CO2 storage, Malaysia
- Aibel wins FEED contract for Wisting production-vessel topsides Equinor Wisting Oil Field Development (FPSO), Barents Sea, Norway
Basic Chemicals
- Mitsubishi Gas Chemical starts methanol demonstration plant using industrial gases and CO2 MGC Mizushima Carbopath Methanol Demonstration Plant
- KBR wins contracts to revamp AGF Nitrogen ammonia plants in Germany and Austria SKW Piesteritz Wittenberg Ammonia Plant 2 Efficiency Revamp
- Aluminerie Alouette secures $28.5 million from Strategic Response Fund Aluminerie Alouette Sept-Îles modernisation and decarbonisation
- BHP CEO Brandon Craig outlines priorities at 2026 AGM BHP Jansen Stage 1 Potash Mine, Saskatchewan
- Groundbreaking for United Capital Fertilizer Complex in Lusaka United Capital Fertilizer Phase II Expansion, Chilanga, Zambia
Polymers
- CNPC Tarim Phase II 1.2 Mt/yr green low‑carbon ethylene project enters commercial operation PetroChina Tarim 1.2 Mt/yr phase II ethylene project
Industrial gases
- Linde expands industrial gas supply to Tata Steel at Kalinganagar Linde Kalinganagar ASU de-captivation for Tata Steel
Pharma
- Lilly breaks ground on $5 billion Richmond site for ADCs and integrated API/finished-medicine manufacturing Lilly Goochland bioconjugate API and drug product plant
Water Treatment
- SONATRACH inspects Tlemcen 300,000 m³/day desalination project Sonatrach ADC Seawater Desalination Plant, Aïn Adjroud (Tlemcen)
Food
- Symrise expands chicken-ingredient production with new Berric cooking line and spray-dryer Symrise Berric Chicken Ingredients Cooking Line and Spray-Dryer Expansion
Also this week
- Elkem and Landsvirkjun agree long-term PPA for Iceland ferrosilicon plant
- LanzaTech‑licensed Hebei Shoulang plant earns ISCC EU RCF certification for ethanol
- CNPC helps Chad adopt Chinese hazardous-waste storage standard
- Sulzer and PDVSA sign five-year strategic alliance for Venezuelan oil operations
- WACKER and EVANIUM partner to commercialize CAVABERINE berberine ingredient
- SCG Chemicals, Toyota and Bangchak expand Toyota Mobility Upcycling Year 2 to scale recycling and SAF feedstock collection
- Aptar Pharma acquires PULMOTREE to add Kolibri non‑propellant liquid inhaler
- Bayer’s asundexian (Sunharbo) approved in China to reduce recurrent ischemic stroke risk
Upcoming events
- in-cosmetics Asia: 2026 3–5 November 2026 · Bangkok
- CHINACOAT: 2026 11–13 November 2026 · Guangzhou
- Advanced Recycling Conference: 2026 17–18 November 2026 · Cologne
- SAMPE Japan Exhibition: 2026 18–20 November 2026 · Tokyo
- Personal Care Technology Convention: PCT 2026 Guangzhou 18–19 November 2026 · Guangzhou