Posted on January 28, 2025
Austrian energy and chemicals company OMV is planning to build a refinery in the port of Antwerp, De Tijd reported on Friday. The proposed facility will convert waste streams, such as used cooking oil and other vegetable or animal fats from the food and agricultural sectors, into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The project, called BioHy, is designed to process up to 300,000 tonnes of organic waste per year. While the primary output will be SAF, the refinery will also produce biodiesel and renewable feedstocks for the chemical industry. Although OMV has not disclosed the cost of the project, it is expected to be a significant investment for the Port of Antwerp.
“The final investment decision depends on obtaining the necessary permits and the prior approval of the OMV board of directors,” said Peter Gräve, an OMV spokesman from Vienna. “This decision is currently planned for 2025.”
OMV Renewable Fuels and Feedstock
OMV established a Belgian subsidiary, OMV Renewable Fuels and Feedstock, in 2023, with an initial capital injection of 20 million euros for the BioHy plant. Permit applications are underway and the Waasland Port has already approved a land lease allowing OMV to use land adjacent to its subsidiary Borealis’ site in Kallo until 2069.
Borealis, a leading plastics producer, also made an announcement on Thursday. The company has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Aspiravi, a Belgian renewable energy producer. Starting in 2026, Aspiravi will supply Borealis with 120 GWh of renewable energy per year from 20 onshore wind turbines located in eight Belgian wind farms. Borealis aims to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
