Europe downstream news

Borealis has begun a major investment at its production location in Schwechat, Austria, with a new polypropylene (PP) compounding line expected to begin operations in the 2H26.

OMV Petrom is expanding its activity in the bitumen field, through two strategic partnerships with Romanian companies, aimed at expanding storage capacity for bitumen and to produce polymer modified bitumen.

Shell has announced that they will not continue with the construction of a biofuels plant in Pernis, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Vioneo has awarded a major contract to ECI Group for a project that will deliver a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plant to operate using an entirely fossil-free feedstock in Belgium.

Bondalti Chemicals has started operation of its chlor-alkali production facility in Estarreja, Portugal, with Asahi Kasei’s electrolyser system.

This article summarises field-proven strategies to enhance efficiency and reliability in syngas plants. It highlights best practices such as robotic convection cleaning, high-emissivity ceramic coatings, SCR fouling solutions, and corrosion-resistant thermal sprays, that reduce energy use by up to 15%, cut emissions, and extend equipment life.

DNV has invested significantly to upgrade its Spadeadam research and development (R&D) facility, UK, to support de-risking the energy transition.

High costs have kept green hydrogen projects from taking off, but new regulations in the EU’s refining sector offers a solution to launching carbon friendly technology at scale, according to a new report from Wood Mackenzie.

Finnish technology company Liquid Sun has launched an eSAF production pilot with ABB, Finnair, Fortum, and Finavia.

Lummus Technology has announced that Vioneo has selected its Novolen® polypropylene (PP) technology for a new grassroots plant in Antwerp, Belgium.