2026-04-01
Chemical companies in the Port of Antwerp are testing a facility that converts wastewater into process water to make the port resilient to drought.
Chemical companies in the Port of Antwerp commissioned a demonstration plant in February, taking an important step towards circular water use. At the TotalEnergies site, the installation will be tested for six months to see how it can convert purified wastewater into high-quality process water for industrial use. The CHERISH2O project companies aim to increase the port’s resilience to drought.
The demonstration installation has a treatment capacity of 1.5 m3 per hour and processes wastewater from five chemical companies, grouped into two clusters: BASF, Bayer and Evonik in the northern part of the port, and ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies in the southern part. In the long term, twelve chemical companies will be able to use the treated process water.
In the first phase, the project team will test the wastewater streams of both clusters separately to assess how combined streams respond to the purification process. In the next phase, they will treat the two clusters together to evaluate the extent to which joint treatment and reuse are technically and operationally feasible.
Striving for circular water use in industry is an ongoing objective for TotalEnergies. We are therefore delighted that this demonstration plant is being tested at our refinery site for the benefit of Antwerp’s industrial sector.
The project will provide valuable insights into the technical reliability of shared circular water networks. It will also highlight the potential of these networks for the chemical industry in the port. The results will provide a strong basis for expanding wastewater reuse in the Port of Antwerp and beyond.
The demonstration installation forms part of the ongoing CHERISH2O project (CHEmical industry water Reuse In a Sustainable Harbour). The two-year project started in September 2024 and explores the joint upgrading and reuse of treated wastewater by chemical companies in the port.
The project team consists of VITO, essenscia, Antea Group, VMM and Port of Antwerp-Bruges, in collaboration with various Antwerp-based companies (Lanxess, INEOS, ExxonMobil, Evonik, Envalior, Borealis, Bayer, BASF, 3M, TotalEnergies, Monument Chemicals and Ashland). The project also receives financial support through the Flemish Blue Deal.
