Turkish company SynPet clears US$348M Antwerp recycling plant as 250,000T facility advances to construction

BELGIUM – SynPet Technologies has secured environmental and zoning approval for its €300 million (US$348 million) chemical recycling plant at Antwerp Port, clearing the way for construction of a facility designed to process 250,000 tonnes of mixed plastic waste annually into circular naphtha substitute for petrochemical feedstocks.

The approval, announced on 16 June 2026, enables SynPet to transition from development to implementation phase. 

The plant, planned at the Euroports Terminal on Antwerp’s right bank, will convert mixed plastic waste streams that cannot be processed through conventional mechanical or chemical recycling methods such as pyrolysis and gasification. 

SynPet’s patented Thermal Conversion Process uses water under elevated pressure and temperature combined with multi-stage thermal cracking. 

The main output, Circular Naphtha Substitute (CNS), meets European steam cracker specifications with a final boiling point of 360°C and can be directly blended into existing naphtha feedstocks used by petrochemical companies in the port area without additional refining. 

How TCP Technology Converts Unrecyclable Plastics into Direct-Blend Petrochemical Feedstock

SynPet’s technology transforms plastic waste that typically ends up in landfills or incinerators into a high-quality circular naphtha substitute that can be used directly by petrochemical companies without further purification or upgrading. 

Unlike standard pyrolysis oil, CNS has consistent quality specifications that enable direct blending into European steam crackers, a significant advancement over conventional recycling outputs that require additional processing. 

The plant will also produce renewable natural gas from waste streams and will use recovered energy sources from its own processes, making it nearly self-sufficient. 

Founded by Turkish entrepreneurs in 2013 with research centers in Belgium and Turkey, SynPet developed its first demonstration plant in 2016 before the Antwerp project. 

CEO Cem Özsüer said that the technology proves plastic does not have to be the problem but can be part of the solution, transforming what was once waste into a valuable raw material again. 

COO Ahmet Callialp stated that Antwerp offered a unique combination of infrastructure, access to raw materials and integration with Europe’s largest petrochemical cluster.

What 250,000 Tonne Capacity Means for Europe’s Circular Economy and EU Plastic Waste Regulations

The €300 million (US$348 million) project, backed by Swiss Kolmar Group and port infrastructure operator Euroports, will create approximately 150 direct and indirect jobs. 

The plant will source plastic feedstock from across Europe, from Norway to Italy, and benefits from EU regulations that restrict waste exports outside the bloc. 

The facility, scheduled for full commercial operation in the second half of 2028, will serve as both a production site and an R&D centre to further optimize circular technologies.

Subscribe to our email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE