The joint venture between end-of-life-tyre (ELT) recycler Scandinavian Enviro Systems, French tyre maker Michelin and Antin Infrastructure Partners has made the final investment decision regarding the construction of the ELT recycling plant in Uddevalla, Sweden.
The joint venture adds it has secured equity financing for the construction of the plant and signed multi-year agreements for the supply of ELTs and offtakes for the recovered carbon black and oil products. The signed agreements regarding deliveries of recovered materials have a total value of approximately EUR180 over the contract period, which varies between 5 and 10 years.
the joint venture plans to construct plants across Europe targeting a total annual recycling capacity of up to 1 million tonnes of ELTs by 2030.
Customers for recovered oil and carbon black include several leading manufacturers in the tyre, rubber and oil industries as well as the chemicals industry. Michelin has also signed multi-year delivery contracts for recovered materials in support of the joint venture and its plans.
In conjunction with ownership of the land where the plant is being constructed passing to the joint venture, Enviro will receive remuneration from the joint venture for the costs worked up at that point in time. Half of the costs worked up will be paid in cash, while the rest will be converted to a stake in the joint venture.
The plant in Uddevalla will be the first full-scale recycling plant based on Enviro’s patented technology and the first to be constructed by the joint venture (following its formation in March 2023). All the of the necessary environmental and construction approvals have been obtained, enabling the joint venture to place orders for key materials and machinery (including those with longer lead times) and construction subcontractors to establish operations on site of the Uddevalla plant.
The construction of the plant is anticipated to commence in the first quarter of 2024, with the aim to have the plan fully operational in 2025, in accordance with previous communications.
The joint venture has negotiated and signed legally binding long-term agreements pertaining to delivery of ELTs to the plant in Uddevalla and delivery of recovered carbon black and oil from the plant. The ELTs will be delivered by companies including Svensk Däckåtervinning AB, while customers for the recovered carbon black and oil include several leading companies in the tyre, rubber and oil industries such as Michelin, Preem, Nokian Tyres and H&R Group.
After successfully commissioning the plant in Uddevalla, the joint venture will seek to accelerate the build-out of additional plants in other European jurisdictions. The procedure for establishment in other European countries has begun so as to ensure a rapid roll-out. Enviro and Antin Infrastructure Partners’ NextGen fund have previously agreed on a plan for financing the construction of the plants.
In conjunction with ownership of the land where the plant is being constructed passing to the joint venture, Enviro will receive payment from the joint venture for the costs worked up at that point in time. Half of the amount will be paid in cash, while the rest will be converted to a stake in the joint venture. Enviro will announce the amount and the ownership stake once both have been established in conjunction with ownership of the land passing to the joint venture.
As previously communicated, Enviro has an option to acquire an ownership share of approximately 30% in the joint venture.