Avantium has provided a progress update on its FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands, expecting to complete start-up by mid-2026 and commence product sales under its existing offtake agreements in the second half of 2026.
The plant is due to produce plant-based furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a key building block for many chemicals and plastics such as PEF. Avantium says the updated timeline is due to construction-related piping issues involving certain titanium welds uncovered during commissioning, which require additional work to ensure a safe and reliable start-up. The company states it has made strong progress with the weld repair activities, providing a clear basis for the remaining start-up steps.
Reportedly, utilities and the sugar dehydration unit are already operational and work is now focused on starting up the oxidation and purification units. During the commissioning activities of those units, Avantium says construction-related quality issues were identified in certain titanium welds in the piping, representing a safety risk for start-up and operations.
According to the company, additional inspections found that more remediation work was required than initially expected, making the previous timeline no longer achievable. The titanium weld remediation will result in an additional €7 million in capital expenditure. Avantium adds that it is reviewing its contractual and legal options to potentially secure compensation for the unexpected cost increases and delays.
Back in 2020, the company announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Avantium Renewable Polymers, had signed a letter of intent to locate the flagship plant at Chemie Park Delfzijl, the Netherlands. Avantium Renewable Polymers also entered into a letter of intent with a Regional Consortium relating to the financing of the FDCA flagship plant and associated costs, for an amount of €30 million, over the period to the plant’s completion in 2023.
In 2022, Avantium’s shareholders granted approval to construct the “world first” flagship plant, with construction initially expected to be complete by the end of 2023, with the plant expected to be fully operational in 2024. It is hoped that the plant will enable the commercial launch of plant-based, recyclable plastic polyethylene furanoate (PEF).
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