Neste increases plastic recycling capacity at Porvoo refinery in Finland

Neste is strengthening its logistics infrastructure at its Porvoo refinery in Finland to accommodate increased quantities of liquefied recycled raw materials, such as waste plastics and rubber tires. The expansion is a key step in supporting Neste’s strategic goal to advance chemical recycling and transform the Porvoo refinery into a hub for renewable and circular solutions. By enhancing its capacity to handle larger quantities of these materials, Neste is playing a key role in the transition to more sustainable production processes.

The new logistics facilities at Neste’s Porvoo refinery include dedicated unloading facilities for handling liquefied recycled materials. At the refinery’s port, Neste is building an unloading arm equipped with a heating system to keep materials such as waste plastics and rubber tires fluid, which require heat to remain liquid. In addition, pipelines will connect the port to dedicated storage tanks, which are designed for increased corrosion resistance. Neste is also installing vapor recovery units to enhance emission control during operations, ensuring compliance with environmental requirements.

The new logistics infrastructure at Neste’s Porvoo refinery is expected to be completed in 2024. This timing coincides with Neste's ongoing construction of a liquefied waste plastics upgrading unit as part of the PULSE project, scheduled for completion in 2025. Once operational, the upgrading unit will convert liquefied recycled material into high-quality feedstock for the plastics and chemical industries. This expanded infrastructure and the new upgrading unit will play a vital role in supporting Neste's strategic goals of advancing chemical recycling and promoting circular solutions.

Jori Sahlsten, Senior Vice President of Refinery and Terminal Operations at Neste's Porvoo Refinery, stressed that transforming the refinery into a hub for renewable and circular solutions is a complex process involving multiple steps and adjustments. An important step is the development of new logistics infrastructure that will enable the refinery to handle larger and more continuous volumes of liquefied recycled feedstock. This infrastructure is essential to support the new upgrading unit, which will have the capacity to process 150,000 tonnes of liquefied waste plastic per year, in line with Neste's commitment to sustainability and innovation.

Neste is a global leader in sustainable fuels and circular materials. Using advanced technologies, the company transforms waste and other resources into renewable solutions, driving decarbonization and circular economy initiatives. As the world's leading producer of sustainable aviation fuels and renewable diesel, and a pioneer in developing renewable raw materials for polymers and chemicals, its goal is to help customers significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a more sustainable future.