Kemira expands capacity in Spain to cater for growing demand in biogas applications and phosphorus removal
Kemira Oyj, press release, July 9, 2024 at 9.00 am EEST
Kemira expands capacity in Spain to cater for growing demand in biogas applications and phosphorus removal
Supports customers in sustainability efforts, drives circular solutions
Kemira invests in expanding its ferric chloride capacity in Tarragona, Spain, to enable production of specific biogas products BDP (Biogas Digestion Product). This investment will enable Kemira to respond to the growing market demand for biogas applications in Europe. Ferric chloride is also the most commonly used coagulant for phosphorus reduction in wastewater treatment. Total investment is in the mid-single digit millions and the capacity is planned to be in operation during 2026.
Tuija Pohjolainen-Hiltunen, President Industry & Water segment: “This investment fully supports our strategy and ambition to grow in water and sustainable solutions. It enables us to support our customers in their sustainability efforts with biogas applications and phosphorus removal. The patented and tailor-made biogas products are unique with an added potential to significantly enhance the yield of biogas production”.
The biogas market is growing fast in Europe, and the demand for supporting products like Kemira’s iron chloride-based BDP products is expected to follow. In developing more circular solutions, replacing natural gas with biogas /biomethane produced from organic waste and agricultural side-products, is an important task where EU has high ambitions with the target to produce 35 billion cubic meters of bio-methane by 2030. Phosphorus is on the EU Critical Raw Materials List and recovery of this critical nutrient from the wastewater is enabled by efficient phosphorus removal technology. Recovered phosphorus can be used in agriculture as a fertilizer.
Kemira supports its biogas customers by offering tailor-made products that work as nutrients in the biological biogas process but also remove toxic substances from the process. The offering also includes services linked to the biogas process, and solutions for optimizing the biogas production capacity and minimizing the cost of operation without any new investments. The produced biogas is used for energy production, vehicle fuel and replacing natural gas.
The increased capacity of ferric chloride will also support the growing demand of phosphorus removal from wastewater. Ferric chloride removes phosphorus from wastewater and reduces the eutrophication in our natural water bodies.
For more information, please contact:
Investor inquiries:
Mikko Pohjala, Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel. +358 40 838 0709
mikko.pohjala@kemira.com
Media inquiries:
Terhi Kivinen, Chief Communications Officer
Tel. +358 40 8484001
terhi.kivinen@kemira.com
Kemira is a global leader in sustainable chemical solutions for water-intensive industries. Our customers include industrial and municipal water treatment operators, and pulp & paper industry among others. We provide the best-suited products and services to improve our customers’ product quality, process, and resource efficiency. Our focus is on water treatment, renewable solutions and digital services. In 2023, Kemira had annual revenue of around EUR 3.4 billion and around 5,000 employees. Kemira shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. www.kemira.com