Verbio Launches New Chemical Plant for Bio-Based Raw Materials

Biofuel producer Verbio has begun operations at a new plant for bio-based chemicals in Bitterfeld-Wolfen. In the future, rapeseed oil will be used there to produce raw materials for products such as detergents, cleaning agents, lubricants, and plastics—as an alternative to petroleum. According to the company, it invested just under 100 million euros in the facility at the Bitterfeld-Wolfen Chemical Park. Verbio describes it as the world’s first large-scale ethenolysis plant based on rapeseed methyl ester.

Up to 60,000 metric tons per year

According to the company, the plant can produce up to 60,000 metric tons of bio-based chemicals annually. Rapeseed methyl ester has primarily been used as biodiesel to date. Now, the substance derived from rapeseed oil is also to be processed into chemical building blocks that can replace fossil-based raw materials.

The products must first be approved and tested by customers for their respective applications. Production volume is therefore expected to grow gradually in line with demand.

The Chemical Industry in Transition

“With the new plant, we are adding another stage of value creation to our biorefinery based on an established feedstock,” said Verbio CEO Claus Sauter. Processing European rapeseed oil strengthens regional agriculture and reduces dependence on global supply chains.

The investment comes at a difficult time for the European chemical industry. High production costs and international competition are putting pressure on the sector. Michael Carus of the nova-Institut said: “The plant in Bitterfeld demonstrates the potential of bio-based raw materials for competitive and more resilient chemical production in Europe.”

Expansion of the Chemical Park

According to the company, the project will create around 50 jobs. In the future, approximately 130 people are expected to work for Verbio at the site. The headquarters of the publicly traded company is located in Zörbig, Saxony-Anhalt.