Vitol Advances Major Plastics Recycling Expansion at Rotterdam Refinery

Vitol has announced plans to significantly expand its circular economy operations through a new chemical recycling facility at the Port of Rotterdam, to be built alongside its VPR refinery. Developed by WPU, Vitol’s plastics recycling business, the proposed plant will process 80,000 tonnes of post-consumer end-of-life plastics annually, lifting WPU’s total recycling capacity to 100,000 tonnes per year.

Once completed, the site is expected to rank among the largest chemical recycling facilities in Europe. The project will employ WPU’s proprietary batch pyrolysis technology, which converts difficult-to-recycle plastic waste into pyrolysis oil. This recycled oil can then be used as a circular feedstock for the production of chemicals, intermediates, and new plastics, offering a lower-carbon alternative to fossil-derived naphtha.

Vitol said the investment reflects growing demand for circular raw materials and tightening European policy requirements aimed at increasing recycled content and reducing emissions across petrochemical value chains. WPU already operates a commercial-scale recycling facility in Farevejle, Denmark, with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes per year, currently running close to full utilization. The Rotterdam development therefore represents the next phase in scaling the company’s technology for the wider European market.

Vitol also highlighted the strategic benefits of integrating the plant with existing refining and logistics infrastructure at Rotterdam, one of Europe’s leading energy and chemicals hubs. The facility is set to include advanced furnace systems designed to lower emissions and reduce energy consumption.

Similar upgrades at the VPR refinery have reportedly cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 percent, sulfur dioxide emissions by 80 percent, and energy use by 40 percent, helping position the refinery among Europe’s most energy-efficient. The proposed project remains subject to regulatory approvals, with stakeholder consultations to be conducted as part of the planning process.

Source: Vitol