News

Craiova, September 16th , 2020 – Clariant, a focused, sustainable and innovative specialty chemical company, recently welcomed His Excellency Arthur Mattli, Ambassador of Switzerland to Romania, in Podari, Dolj County, where the company is currently building a cellulosic ethanol plant, based on Clariant’s innovative sunliquid® technology.

As part of the visit, the Ambassador was given a guided tour of the construction site, where Clariant Romania’s management team presented an overview of the construction phases and provided information about the future operations. Additionally, the Ambassador was offered a more in-depth insight into the advanced biofuels industry in Europe and the importance of the project for the local economy.

„The visit of the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation, H.E. Arthur Mattli, is very honouring to us, and confirms the importance of Clariant’s operations locally. The plant will create new, green jobs and business opportunities for farmers will evolve that contribute to the economic development of the region”, said Dragoş Gavriluţă, Project Director sunliquid® Romania. “The first-of-its-kind commercial-scale sunliquid® plant that produces cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues, will put Romania on the map of advanced biofuels production in Europe. We look forward at welcoming the Ambassador again, at the inauguration ceremony of this flagship plant, once construction has been completed”, he adds.

His Excellency Arthur Mattli added: „Clariant’s plant in Podari is an excellent example how agricultural residues in the Dolj region can be newly defined and can be turned into value. The project will therefore contribute to establish a new bio-based value chain based on agricultural residues.”

At the end of the visit, Ambassador Arthur Mattli expressed his appreciation towards the investment carried out by Clariant in Romania, and its positive and transformative impact for the community.

Clariant is investing more than EUR 100 million in its first-of-its-kind plant. The project receives more than EUR 40 million in funding from the European Union.

Once operational, the plant will process approx. 250.000 tons of straw and will produce 50.000 tons of cellulosic ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol is an advanced, truly sustainable and carbon-neutral biofuel that can readily be used in today’s existing car infrastructure.

The sunliquid® plant is constructed on a 98.000 sqm area observing the highest technological standards while paying close attention to the comfort and life of the local community. The civil constructor is a Romanian company, and the construction works will involve a team of up to 800 workers in the peak phase. Clariant is making good progress with the construction. The construction completion is expected in 2021 and thereafter startup and production.