RYADH, KSA: A joint project by TotalEnergies, Aramco and SABIC has achieved a breakthrough in the Middle East and North Africa by converting oil derived from plastic waste into certified circular polymers.

The project used plastic pyrolysis oil, also known as plastic waste derived oil (PDO), as a feedstock to produce polymers that can be used for various applications. The PDO was processed at the SATORP refinery in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, which is jointly owned by Aramco and TotalEnergies.

The project aims to create a domestic value chain for the advanced recycling of plastics to circular polymers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The process allows the use of non-sorted plastics, which can be difficult to recycle mechanically, and helps to address the challenge of end-of-life plastics.

The project also obtained ISCC+ certification, which ensures transparency and traceability of the recycled origin of feedstock and products. Three industrial plants were involved in the process: SATORP refinery, Aramco’s Ju’aymah NGL Fractionation Plant and Petrokemya, a SABIC affiliate. All successfully obtained the ISCC+ certification, enabling the production of circular materials.

The project partners said that the initiative reflects their ambition to contribute to a more sustainable and lower-carbon future. They also said that they are studying several other circular economy projects, leveraging their technical expertise and experience to further contribute to plastics recycling.