ECI Group Powers Vioneo Green LDPE Plant With Power Technology

The facility will be built in Antwerp, Belgium, marking a key step towards the transition to sustainable plastics. It will use ECI Group’s proprietary high-pressure autoclave technology to produce 110,000 tons of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) annually from certified green methanol. The joint venture is supported by A.P. Moller, with ECI Group’s product partner Repsol providing essential market knowledge and product expertise.

ECI Group President and CEO Joaquin Flores commented:We are proud to have been chosen to support Vioneo’s vision of creating the world’s first green LDPE plant and the first new high-pressure autoclave LDPE plant built in Europe in forty years. This project is fully aligned with our vision of delivering technological solutions that drive sustainable innovation.

Vioneo, with the support of A.P. Moller Holding, is committed to pioneering fossil-free plastic production. The facility will be part of Vioneo’s planned production complex in Antwerp, Belgium, which aims to address fundamental environmental challenges associated with conventional plastic manufacturing and will position Europe at the forefront of the transition to a sustainable “fossil-free” plastics industry.

“Vioneo is driving the transformation of the plastics industry by demonstrating the economic feasibility of large-scale clean production using green methanol instead of fossil fuels. This initiative provides Europe with the opportunity to lead the decarbonization of the €5 trillion chemicals and materials industry. Our collaboration with the ECI Group is a key step in realizing this vision.said Alex Hogan, CEO of Vioneo.

The LDPE plant will use green methanol feedstock derived from bio-based carbon dioxide, ensuring the products are completely fossil-free, traceable, and ISCC PLUS certified. The facility is powered by renewable electricity, significantly reducing lifecycle emissions while delivering high-performance low-density polyethylene suitable for key applications such as healthcare, automotive, packaging, and consumer goods.

“This project marks a milestone in the polymer industry. By combining green methanol with our high-pressure polyethylene technology, we are achieving a truly fossil-free method of plastic manufacturing. We look forward to working with Vioneo to deliver this first-of-its-kind facility."ECI Group HPPE Technology Director Chris Brock said."

ECI Group's proprietary technology offers a wide range of high-pressure polyethylene products, providing unparalleled operational efficiency, reliability, and flexibility. Based on ECI Group's decades of experience in the polymer industry, their technology has been optimized to utilize modern materials, design techniques, standards, and industry best practices for construction, operation, and maintenance. In the four years since 2021, ECI Group has licensed over 1 million tons of annual capacity, all utilizing ECI Group's standardized design approach.

Multi-energy company Repsol will support the ECI Group as a product partner, bringing its extensive technical, operational, and commercial expertise. Repsol has more than 55 years of experience in producing LDPE, EVA, and EBA polymers at its industrial complexes in Spain and Portugal.