Saudi petrochemicals and plastics giant Sabic (Riyadh; www.sabic.com) and British chemical recycling company Plastic Energy (London; www.plasticenergy.com) are ready to commence the engineering and construction phase of their recycling unit in Geleen / The Netherlands. The two companies signed a 2018 memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the British recycler to supply feedstock chemically recycled from plastics waste to Sabic’s petrochemical production facilities in Europe.

As Plasteurope.com reported at the time, the plant was to enter commercial production in 2021 (see Plasteurope.com of 14.12.2018). Now, the facility is expected to become operational in the second half of 2022, and is expected to have a capacity of 15,000 t/y to 20,000 t/y.

The unit is to produce certified circular oils (“Tacoil”) as part of Sabic’s “Trucircle” portfolio, the company’s polycarbonate resin based on renewable feedstock made by upcycling mixed and used plastics (see Plasteurope.com of 17.10.2019). The project is a 50/50 JV, called Spear (Sabic Plastic Energy Advanced Recycling), and is being supported by an energy subsidy from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.