HOLBORN awards KT a USD 400 million EPC contract for a GDP complex to produce green diesel and sustainable aviation fuels in Germany

The complex on the site of the HOLBORN Europa refinery in Hamburg is scheduled to go into operation in early 2027 and will produce 220,000 tonnes of high-quality renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from residual and waste materials each year.

Hamburg, 18 June 2024. KT – Kinetics Technology, a subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont SpA, Milan, has been awarded an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract by HOLBORN Europa Raffinerie GmbH for the development of a GDP complex within the HOLBORN refinery in Hamburg. KT is receiving support from its Italian sister company NEXTCHEM. The project involves the development of a plant that will produce approximately 220,000 tonnes of green diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) per year using waste and residual materials and low-carbon hydrogen.

The contract is worth around 400 million US dollars. The plant is scheduled to go into operation in early 2027 and includes a pre-treatment plant, the HVO plant and the connecting infrastructure to the existing plants.

HVO, also known as green diesel, is a fuel made from waste and residual materials with the same chemical properties as fossil diesel. At the same time, it offers the advantage of reducing dependence on petroleum and lowering environmental impact. It is used worldwide as a drop-in biofuel in diesel vehicles without the need for engine modifications. Furthermore, compared to fossil diesel, the use of renewable diesel enables a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and thus meets the sustainability criteria of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III).

KT's engineering teams have an outstanding track record and are using their technological expertise to create innovative designs for an HVO complex that will provide the HOLBORN refinery with numerous benefits in terms of operational efficiency and CO2 reduction. Lars Bergmann, Managing Director of the HOLBORN Europa refinery, explained: "This project is an important step in HOLBORN's long-term transformation process, which aims to replace crude oil with alternative raw materials as part of our growth strategy. In doing so, we are focusing on renewable and circular solutions. By becoming a producer of sustainable fuels, we are expanding our scope of activity and implementing innovative technologies that reduce our carbon footprint."