Lummus and MOL Group Launch Engineering Phase for Cutting-Edge Waste Plastic Recycling in Hungary

Lummus Technology, a leading global provider of process technologies and innovative energy solutions, and MOL Group, a premier integrated oil and gas corporation in Central Eastern Europe, have initiated the design phase for their pioneering Lummus Advanced Waste Plastic Recycling unit. This groundbreaking facility will be established at MOL Petrochemicals Co. Ltd. in Tiszaújváros, Hungary, showcasing a processing capacity of 40 thousand tons of mixed waste plastics annually.

The plant will incorporate cutting-edge Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction features, including a fully electric pyrolysis reactor designed to ensure zero direct scope 1 emissions during standard operations. This initiative underscores both companies' commitment to sustainable practices and innovative solutions in waste management and petrochemical production.

Leon de Bruyn, President and CEO of Lummus Technology, stated that the collaboration marked another milestone for Lummus and MOL Group, emphasizing its role in advancing industry circularity. He highlighted their strategy of utilizing Lummus’ innovative technology and leveraging MOL’s operational excellence to enhance sustainable solutions, specifically addressing global plastic waste challenges.

MOL's chemical recycling of plastics is integral to their initiative to collect nearly 5 million tonnes of municipal solid waste, encompassing treatment and associated investments. This endeavor aligns with MOL's pledge to promote circularity, demonstrated by their recent investments in waste plastics recycling across Central Europe. Through these efforts, MOL will expand its portfolio to include a diverse array of sustainable compounds tailored for multiple industries, such as automotive, construction, building, and packaging. This strategic move enhances MOL's role in fostering sustainable industrial practices and addressing environmental challenges.

Gabriel Szabó, Executive Vice President of Downstream at MOL Group, emphasized the chemical industry's pivotal role in initiating the circular economy and expediting a smart transition. He underscored MOL Group's longstanding focus on this area, yielding increasing achievements over the years. Szabó highlighted a significant advancement with the construction of a 40,000-ton capacity pyrolysis plant, marking a critical stride in plastic recycling. He noted that Lummus pyrolysis technology would facilitate the conversion of plastic waste into high-value chemicals and raw materials, offering a fresh approach to waste management challenges. Szabó concluded by stating that the collaboration showcased their industrial competitiveness and unwavering commitment to a sustainable future.

This initiative is part of the 2023 partnership between Lummus and MOL, aimed at deploying and integrating chemical recycling of plastics within MOL’s facilities in Hungary and Slovakia. Lummus’ Green Circle business unit is providing MOL with cutting-edge waste plastic pyrolysis technology, which efficiently transforms plastic waste into high-value chemicals and feedstocks, fostering circularity. This technology is recognized for its reliability and economic attractiveness, offering additional environmental benefits such as a reduced carbon footprint and the elimination of char production. Additionally, Lummus will leverage its expertise in steam cracking, catalytic cracking, and residue processing to ensure seamless integration with MOL’s existing assets.

Green Circle, a key division of Lummus Technology, focuses on capitalizing on new opportunities in the energy transition and circular economy. It is at the forefront of delivering economically and technically robust solutions for processing plastic-containing solid wastes, converting various renewable bio-based feedstocks into value-added chemicals, polymers, and fuels, decarbonizing refinery and petrochemical assets, and enhancing the production of blue hydrogen and biofuels.