Norwegian plastic chemical recycling form Quantafuel has announced plans for its first UK facility in Sunderland.
The company is already assessing other UK sites in addition to the proposed plant in Sunderland.
Quantafuel UK has submitted a preliminary planning application for a 12-acre site on the eastern edge of the Port of Sunderland.
It will be designed to process more than 100,000 tonnes of plastic per year that will be broken down into oil before being turned into virgin-equivalent plastics.
The company already has one plant at Skive in Denmark and another in Kristiansund in Norway.
In the UK, it has created a new company Quantafuel Sunderland which is a 50:50 joint venture with Quantafuel and Midas Group.
As yet, there isn’t a proposed time when the plant is set to open as the planning process still needs to be gone through.
Quantafuel interim chief executive Terje Eiken said: “I’m pleased to announce Quantafuel’s plans to enter into circular plastics in the UK.
“This is an important step because we see strong potential in the UK market. By upgrading used plastic waste into valuable products, we will contribute towards the circular economy and help improve the UK’s plastic recycling rates.”
Sunderland City Council leader and chair of Port of Sunderland Councillor Graeme Miller added: “We are absolutely thrilled that Port of Sunderland has been chosen as the preferred location for Quantafuel’s first UK operation…
“…There has been a concerted drive to stimulate investment in the city in general and the port in particular, with a huge programme of infrastructure works carried out to make parts of the estate shovel ready.
“Quantafuel’s decision to locate to Sunderland vindicates this work and is testament to the ambition of Port of Sunderland and the city council as its municipal owner.”
