Spain-based technology firm Catalyxx has reportedly announced the construction of its first commercial-scale bio-based chemical plant, “Catalyxx Ibérica,” at the Sines Industrial and Logistics Zone (ZILS) in Portugal. The plant, which produces butanol, hexanol, and octanol from bioethanol feedstock, has reportedly been designated a Project of National Interest (PIN) by the Portuguese government and has completed its environmental permitting.
The Catalyxx Ibérica plant is being developed in the deep-water port-adjacent industrial zone of Sines in southern Portugal and is reported to produce butanol, hexanol, and octanol from bioethanol feedstock. The applied process technology is Catalyxx’s proprietary catalytic process, with engineering support reportedly provided by Worley and Quadrante.
The plant’s investment is reported at approximately €120 million, with construction targeted to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. Annual CO2 reduction following start-up is reported at approximately 105,000 tons. Separately, Catalyxx is reported to have secured €20 million in funding through the RenewChem project under the EU’s Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), with a consortium including Arkema and Evonik reportedly involved in that funding.
Producing chemical feedstocks from bioethanol aligns with Europe’s circular economy and decarbonization policy direction, replacing fossil-fuel-based feedstocks, and this plant is cited as a commercialization example of that trend.
Implications for Korea’s Industry
As commercialization cases for bio-based chemical feedstock production technology increase, it is reported that Korean chemical companies would benefit from continued monitoring of bio-feedstock conversion technology trends.
Whether construction begins as targeted in the fourth quarter of 2026 and the timing of commercial start-up are cited as key points to watch.