Mura Technology launches new plastic recycling facility in Singapore

ASIA – Mura Technology has established a new 50,000-tonne-per-year recycling facility on Jurong Island, Singapore, to convert plastic waste into valuable circular feedstocks. 

This development marks the company’s first major investment in Southeast Asia, expanding its efforts to address the region’s growing plastic waste challenge. 

The facility, located within the Singapore Essential Chemicals Complex, complements existing operations licensed by Mura to Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation in Japan and LG Chem in South Korea, alongside its UK plant in Wilton, Teesside. 

Together, these sites are expected to produce 60,000 tonnes of liquid circular hydrocarbons by the end of 2025.

According to Mura, the Jurong Island facility, secured through a site agreement with PCS Pte. Ltd., will utilize its innovative Hydro-PRT technology.

The technology utilises supercritical water to transform mixed and contaminated plastics, such as food packaging, into hydrocarbons for the production of virgin-quality recycled plastics. 

The company has also opened a Singapore office to support this expansion. 

With the capacity to process over 60,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually and potential to scale up to 100,000 tonnes, the facility aims to tackle Southeast Asia’s projected 56 million tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste by 2050.

In a statement, Dr. Steve Mahon, CEO of Mura Technology, said, “Southeast Asia’s high plastic consumption and rapid urbanization make it a critical region for combating plastic pollution.”

“Singapore’s robust infrastructure and government vision provide an ideal foundation for our first regional facility.” 

Mura plans to source a significant portion of its feedstock from Singapore through collaborations with local companies and the National Environment Agency, supplemented by verified recovered plastic from regional sources.

A recent report highlights Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan, launched in 2019, which targets a 70% recycling rate for plastics by 2030.

Mura’s initiative supports this goal by offering a solution for low-value plastics that often end up in landfills or incinerators. 

The company’s technology is noted for its ability to recycle mixed plastics efficiently, reducing reliance on fossil-based feedstocks.

In related news, Mura recently partnered with Neste to supply circular feedstocks from its Teesside facility, starting in mid-2024, further expanding its global reach. 

This agreement aims to provide high-quality recycled materials to meet growing demand in the plastics industry. 

With Singapore’s strategic location and advanced infrastructure, Mura’s new facility is set to play a key role in advancing a circular economy for plastics in Southeast Asia.

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