Bondalti Chemicals, a leading Portuguese chemical manufacturer, has officially commenced operations at its cutting-edge chlor-alkali production plant in Estarreja, Portugal. Designed and constructed by CAC Engineering and equipped with Asahi Kasei’s advanced electrolyzer technology, the facility embodies the next generation of sustainable chemical manufacturing.

The new plant features nine state-of-the-art chlor-alkali electrolyzers, enabling Bondalti to optimize energy consumption, enhance material efficiency, and meet ambitious decarbonization targets. Co-financed by the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan, the project represents a major modernization step in the European chlor-alkali industry.

“One of our primary goals was to combine operational excellence with sustainability,” said David Lopes, Director of Bondalti Chemicals. “The start-up of this new plant demonstrates our commitment to innovation, efficiency, and responsible chemical production.”

At the heart of the plant, Asahi Kasei’s latest ion exchange membranes and high-performance electrodes allow for efficient brine electrolysis, producing chlorine, caustic soda, and hydrogen for a wide range of industries. One electrolyzer will also be used for experimental trials, advancing resource optimization and further reducing power consumption.

In line with Asahi Kasei’s circular economy initiatives, used cells and electrodes from trials will be recycled into materials for new components, closing the loop on resource usage and reinforcing environmental responsibility.

“The integration of nine new electrolyzers during active production was an extraordinary technical achievement,” commented Mike Niederstadt, COO at CAC Engineering. “This project highlights the synergy between technological innovation, operational excellence, and large-scale engineering expertise.”

Yoshifumi Kado, Senior General Manager at Asahi Kasei, added, “By combining Asahi Kasei’s system know-how with CAC’s engineering expertise and Bondalti on-site knowledge, we are advancing the boundaries of sustainable chlor-alkali production in Europe.”