Repsol moves forward with renewable and circular methanol from waste facility

In Spain, Repsol’s Board of Directors gave the green light to invest in the Ecoplant, a pioneering project in Europe to transform urban waste into renewable fuels and circular products, adding a solution for reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector, while at the same time promoting the circular economy.

Located in Tarragona, this facility —expected to receive an investment of over €800 million— will become the first plant in Europe to produce renewable and circular methanol from waste through gasification, the world’s most advanced waste valorization process. This cutting-edge technology, developed by Enerkem – a technology company in which Repsol is a partner – gives a second life to waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or be incinerated.

The new plant will have the capacity to process up to 400,000 tons of municipal solid waste per year and turn them into 240,000 tons of renewable fuels and circular products. The renewable methanol originates from organic waste, while the circular products come from non-organic waste, such as non-recyclable plastics.

The start-up of the plant, scheduled for 2029, will result in the creation of 340 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, as well as some 2,800 jobs during the construction phase. The Ecoplant will be integrated into Repsol’s industrial complex in Tarragona to take advantage of existing infrastructures and accelerate the transformation of the center into a multi-energy hub that will continue to manufacture essential products for society, such as renewable fuels and circular materials. This investment is a clear commitment by Repsol to maintain industrial employment in Spain and to continue generating wealth in the surrounding area.