Page 165 - CW E-Magazine (4-3-2025)

News from Abroad

CHEMICAL RECYCLING
SK Chemicals setting up waste plastic recycling

innovation centre in Korea

South Korea’s SK Chemicals is This is supported by a polymerisation
establishing a comprehensive plas- pilot that produces a circular recycled
tic recycling solution centre in South PET and a commercial production
Korea that will encompass the production facility capable of mass-producing
of circular recyclable raw materials, circular recycled copolyester.
demonstration research, and material
production. “Since different industries such as
automotive, electronics, and fashion
The company announced that it will have varying types of waste plastics
establish a Recycle Innovation Centre and require different plastic qualities
(RIC) at its Ulsan plant. It will invest includes not only polyester yarn but and properties, it is crucial to have the
in new depolymerisation pilot faci- also other fibres such as cotton, as well technology and capability to quickly
lities for the chemical decomposition as various accessories like buttons. validate and commercialise depoly-
of waste plastics to produce recycled merisation and material production pro-
Bis-2-Hydroxy Ethyl Terephthalate The depolymerisation pilot facility cesses tailored to each industry. With
(r-BHET), linking them with existing is scheduled to begin operations in the establishment of the RIC, we will
commercial copolyester production 2026 with an production capacity of be able to provide faster and more flexi-
facilities. This marks SK Chemicals’ 50-tpa. BHET (r-BHET), an interme- ble solutions to the complex challenges
first depolymerisation technology- diate raw material for polyester-based demanded by various industries based
based recycling centre in Korea. materials such as PET and copolyester, on our foundational technology,” the
is integral to SK Chemicals’ chemical company informed.
The newly constructed pilot facility recycling technology.
will validate commercialisation tech- SK Chemicals lays claim to be-
nology for various types of low-qual- With the construction of the RIC, ing the first globally to commercialise
ity waste plastics that were previously SK Chemicals will establish an inte- circular recycled copolyester using chemi-
difficult to recycle using conventional grated research and production system cally recycled raw materials (2021); the
methods, expanding beyond typical at its Ulsan plant, covering everything first in Korea to supply circular recy-
transparent bottles to include fibres, from circular recycled raw materials cled PET (2022); and has established
films, and automotive parts. In parti- (r-BHET) to circular recycled mate- a solid production base for recycled
cular, the recycling of textiles is known rials. All processes from depolymerisa- waste plastic business by acquiring a
to be highly challenging field due to tion to demonstration research, polym- stake in the Chinese company Shuye
the diverse forms and types of mate- erisation, and mass production will be Environmental Technology and estab-
rials mixed in a single garment. This organically integrated at one location. lishing SK Chemicals Shantou.
Aramco to acquire 25% stake in Philippines’ Unioil

Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s integrated The move is part of Aramco’s downstream ners. We are delighted to embark on the
energy and chemical firm, has agreed expansion and growth of its global next stage of this journey with Unioil, a
to acquire a 25% equity stake in Unioil retail network, which aims to secure dynamic player in the fast-growing Philip-
Petroleum Philippines, one of the largest additional outlets for its refined products. pines fuels market.” The announce-
petroleum companies in the Philippines. Mr. Yasser Mufti, Aramco Executive ment follows Aramco’s previous retail
The planned acquisition, which is subject Vice President of Products & Customers, acquisitions in Chile and Pakistan. Upon
to customary closing conditions includ- said, “Our international expansion aims completion, Aramco intends to extend its
ing regulatory approvals, aims to capi- to capture additional value and enhance brand, competitive retail offerings and
talise on anticipated growth of the high- our participation in vibrant economies, Valvoline-branded lubricants to select
value fuels market in the Philippines. in collaboration with established part- retail stations in the Philippines.

Chemical Weekly March 4, 2025 165

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