UPM opened its Leuna biorefinery, which produces wood-based renewable chemicals, according to ChemXplore's weekly project roundup for the week of October 21.
The facility converts woody biomass into renewable chemical building blocks, positioning UPM in the biobased chemicals segment. The opening was listed among 13 project milestones tracked during the week, five of which were new announcements.
The same week also saw MOL Group open its first biomethane plant in Szarvas, Hungary, and Air Liquide agree to supply Rectisol and Lurgi Methanol technology for a Perpetual Next biomethanol plant in Delfzijl, Netherlands.
These projects reflect continued investment in biobased and circular chemical production in Europe, a theme highlighted at the European Petrochemical Association's annual meeting in Vienna, where executives pointed to bio-olefins and bioplastics as growth areas.
The Leuna site is part of a broader German chemical cluster seeking to diversify away from fossil-based commodity production.
