Sulzer has been selected by WPU, part of global energy and commodities giant Vitol, to supply its PyroCon technology and engineering services for a major new chemical recycling facility in the Netherlands—marking a significant industrial push into advanced plastic waste processing.
The planned plant, located next to Vitol’s VPR refinery in the Port of Rotterdam, will be capable of processing up to 80,000 tonnes of mixed plastic waste per year, converting it into reusable raw material for new plastic production.
At the heart of the project is a two-stage conversion system. WPU will use its proprietary process to convert plastic waste into gas via pyrolysis. Sulzer’s PyroCon technology will then take over, rapidly cooling and condensing those vapors into a liquid feedstock that can be reused in the plastics value chain.
Beyond equipment supply, Sulzer will also deliver engineering services to support project execution, providing a complete skid-mounted modular solution. Basic engineering was completed in Q1 2026, with first skid deliveries scheduled for Q1 2027, aligning with the project timeline.
The system is designed to handle a broad range of feedstocks, including heavily contaminated plastic waste, while maintaining operational flexibility as input conditions and capacity demands change.
“We are proud to be a strategic partner for Vitol", said Tim Schulten, Division President Chemtech. "After having developed this technology for years, landmark projects like this confirm the industrial potential of our uniquely positioned solution.”
From Vitol’s side, Tom Baker, Global Head of Naphtha and Head of Middle East, said: “Plastic waste is a global problem and pyrolysis at scale a potential solution. We are pleased to be working with Sulzer to develop WPU’s new plant in Rotterdam in order to deliver recycled feedstock to the plastics sector.”
