Cepsa starts construction of isopropyl alcohol plant in Spain

Cepsa has started construction of a plant in Spain to produce 80,000 metric tons of isopropyl alcohol. The investment in the new plant represents €75 million. The plant will enable the replacement of fossil raw materials with sustainable materials, reinforcing Cepsa's Positive Motion strategy to drive the energy transition.

Cepsa is strengthening its chemical business by launching a new industrial activity to produce isopropyl alcohol (IPA), a key ingredient in hydroalcoholic gels and cleaning products. IPA is widely used in the medical and pharmaceutical industries as a solvent in the manufacture of paints, coatings and printing inks, and as an intermediate in the production of essential ingredients in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and agrochemical industries.

The new plant, which will be located in Palos de la Frontera in southern Spain, aims to replace fossil raw materials in the production of IPA with sustainable raw materials. This is in line with Cepsa's Positive Motion energy transition strategy and expands Cepsa Química's range of more sustainable products.

For José María Solana, CEO of Cepsa Química, the IPA project "is a very important step in our strategy of Next Generation Chemicals Positive Action. The facility will be connected to our Andalucía Green Hydrogen Valley, so this activity will fit perfectly with our commitment to make progress in the fight against climate change and accelerate the ecological transition, while providing Spain with greater supply autonomy for this type of product".

The new plant will be ready by the end of 2025 and will have an annual production capacity of 80,000 tons. It is estimated that the construction of this new plant will require approximately 400,000 hours of work, both direct and indirect labor.