The construction of the Fintoil’s CTO biorefinery to begin immediately in the Port of HaminaKotka

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Type of post: NEWS.

Fintoil Oy has announced that it has decided to go ahead and invest around 100 M€ in the construction of a new crude tall oil (CTO) biorefinery in the Port of HaminaKotka (Finland).

Figure 1. View of the Port of HaminaKotka

Fintoil is owned by its key personnel and an investor group led by Finland-headed financial services and investment company Taaleri Group that also has a stake in the company. The CTO biorefinery will be located in the Port of HaminaKotka (the largest universal port in Finland) with construction to begin imminently. First announced a year ago, the final investment decision brings long-awaited positive news. The 200 ktons/year plant has recently been granted environmental and construction permits. Once operational, estimated to be in the summer of 2022, it will be the world’s third-largest CTO biorefinery. Fintoil estimates that annual revenues from the advanced biofuel and biochemical products to be in the region of 150 M€ while the biorefinery will employ 35 persons directly and an estimated 100 persons indirectly.

The plant will refine crude tall oil (CTO), a byproduct of the kraft pulp process, to produce feedstock for second-generation renewable diesel (HVO). Over 50% of the facility’s total production is directed towards crude fatty acid (CFA), or so-called Fintoil Pine Diesel, a raw renewable diesel that is then further refined at a refinery. The CFA volume allows for the annual production of 100 million litres of pure, renewable HVO. In addition to CFA, the distillation process separates rosin, sterol pitch, and turpentine, which are sold for further refinement to clients in the chemicals, foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals industries. CTO is classified as a sustainable feedstock for advanced biofuels in the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED II).

Fintoil’s refinery utilizes Neste Engineering Solutions patented “NEXPINUS” technology, which translates to over 40% less energy consumption in comparison to a conventional tall oil refinery. According to Fintoil, the climate footprint of crude tall oil derivatives is up to 90% lower than its fossil counterparts. The new biorefinery will bring a 400 ktons reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which is roughly 1% of Finland’s total emissions.

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