Kemira expands Ferric Chloride production capacity in Spain

Kemira is investing in the expansion of its Ferric Chloride production capacity in Tarragona, Spain, to produce a specific biogas product BDP (Biogas Digestion Product). This investment will enable Kemira to meet the growing market demand for biogas applications in Europe. Ferric Chloride is also the most commonly used coagulant for phosphorus reduction in wastewater treatment. The total investment is worth several million USD and the capacity is scheduled to be operational in 2026.

Tuija Pohjolainen-Hiltunen, President of the Industrial and Water Division, said: "This investment fully supports our strategy and ambition to grow in the water and sustainable solutions sector. It enables us to support our customers' sustainable development through biogas applications and phosphorus removal. The patented and customized biogas product is unique and has the additional potential to significantly increase biogas production."

The biogas market in Europe is developing rapidly and demand for complementary products such as Kemira's Ferric Chloride-based BDP product is expected to grow with it. Replacing natural gas with biogas/biomethane produced from organic waste and agricultural by-products is an important task in developing more circular solutions, and the EU has high expectations for this, with a target of producing 35 billion cubic meters of biomethane by 2030. Phosphorus is an important substance on the EU's list of critical raw materials, and this key nutrient can be recovered from wastewater through efficient phosphorus removal technologies. The recovered phosphorus can be used as agricultural fertilizer.

Kemira supports its biogas customers by providing customized products that act as nutrients in the biogas process and remove toxic substances from the process. The product also includes services related to the biogas process, as well as solutions to optimize biogas production capacity and minimize operating costs without any new investments. The produced biogas can be used to produce energy, automotive fuel and replace natural gas.

The increase in the ferric chloride capacity will also meet the growing demand for phosphorus removal from wastewater. Ferric chloride removes phosphorus from wastewater and reduces eutrophication of natural water bodies.