Belgian plastics distributor and compounder Ravago (Arendonk; www.ravago.com) says it has taken a minority stake in US-based Alterra Energy (Akron, Ohio; www.alterraenergy.com), a chemical recycling technology company that aims to build a liquefaction site in Europe in 2021.

Additionally, the new shareholder said it will supply pre-processed waste plastics to the US company’s Akron facility, which can liquefy up to 60 t a day of polymer refuse for use as a feedstock in plastics and chemical production, and Ravago is to serve as a strategic partner for future commercial installations.

A Ravago spokesperson declined to comment on the value of its holding in Alterra, the size of the stake it now controls, and specifics on the types of materials it will supply to the American site.

The deal follows a similar agreement between Alterra and Finnish refiner Neste (Espoo; www.neste.com), which said it had acquired a minority stake in the recycling firm at the beginning of the year (see Plasteurope.com of 07.01.2021).

The Ravago moves have created a nice little reclaim troika: the company has also helped Neste source liquefied plastics waste for its recycling operations in Finland (see Plasteurope.com of 04.01.2021), and Alterra and Neste are collaborating in technology development and global technology licensing, with the Finnish refiner assisting in the commercialisation of Alterra’s proprietary thermochemical liquefaction technology in Europe.