UK chemical recycling company Plastic Energy (London; www.plasticenergy.com) is collaborating with US energy and petrochemicals giant ExxonMobil (Irving, Texas; www.exxonmobil.com) on an advanced recycling project in France.

Under agreements with ExxonMobil affiliates, Plastic Energy will build, own and operate the plant, which will be located adjacent to ExxonMobil’s Notre Dame de Gravenchon petrochemical complex. Based on current plans, Plastic Energy expects the project to be one of the largest advanced recycling plants in Europe, with an initial capacity of 25,000 t/y of plastics waste, scaling up to 33,000 t/y in the future.

The UK recycler uses chemical reclaim technology to transform mixed plastics waste – currently difficult to recycle in existing systems – into oils, called Tacoil. The oil is then used to make virgin-quality plastics.

Carlos Monreal, founder and CEO of Plastic Energy, said, “This project with ExxonMobil is another important step towards a more circular economy for plastics. Plastic Energy’s aim is to continue to build recycling infrastructure in France, and globally, to increase recyclability of plastics.”

The companies expect to take a final investment decision in mid-2021 with start-up anticipated in 2023. Plastic Energy is also working with Sabic (Riyadh / Saudi Arabia; www.sabic.com) and Ineos (London; www.ineos.com) on chemical recycling ventures.

Engineering and construction on Sabic’s Netherlands-based project in Geleen were due to kick off in January 2021 (see Plasteurope.com of 25.01.2021). The project with Ineos is expected to reach completion towards the end of 2023, although the companies have not announced a location for the plant (see Plasteurope.com of 29.04.2020). Plastic Energy has been operating two chemical recycling plants in Seville and Almeria in Spain, since 2014 and 2017, respectively.