Catalyxx Plans €120 Million Bio-Based Chemicals Plant in Portugal by 2026

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Catalyxx has announced the construction of its first commercial-scale plant, Catalyxx Ibérica, in Sines, Portugal. The facility will produce butanol, hexanol, and octanol from bioethanol, with a total investment of €120 million. The company stated that the selection of Sines was primarily based on local industrial infrastructure, deep-water port access, logistics connectivity, and the availability of renewable energy sources.

The Portuguese government has granted the project "Project of National Interest" (PIN) status, recognizing its contribution to domestic industrial development, innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. This designation enables the project to benefit from an accelerated regulatory approval process. The project has also secured key environmental approvals, which Catalyxx describes as a significant milestone in its readiness to move into the construction phase.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. Engineering activities are supported by Worley, a global energy, chemicals, and resources expert, and Quadrante, an engineering and sustainability consulting firm. Project funding comprises a combination of private investment and public funds, including €20 million from the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU).

The construction of the Sines plant builds on operational experience gained at Catalyxx's demonstration facility in Seville, Spain. At that facility, the company validated the performance of its proprietary catalytic process under continuous operating conditions and generated data supporting industrial scale-up. Catalyxx positions the Sines plant as the foundation for further expansion in low-carbon chemicals and fuels.

Catalyxx states that the Sines plant is expected to avoid approximately 105,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. The company also anticipates that the project will attract additional private and institutional investment to Portugal and support the development of new sustainable value chains within the country's industrial ecosystem.