The multi-metal producer Aurubis today inaugurated an innovative recycling plant at its site in Olen (Belgium). The Flemish Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele and the Mayor of Olen, Kris Gebruers, attended the ceremony. This opening marks another important milestone in the company's strategic roadmap. The investment is a significant contribution to Aurubis' international smelting network and maximizes the synergies within the network.
With the new hydrometallurgical bleed treatment plant BOB (Bleed treatment Olen Beerse), Aurubis relies on state-of-the-art and energy-efficient recycling technology. The plant recovers valuable metals such as nickel and copper from electrolyte streams that accumulate during metal production in the tankhouses at the Aurubis sites in Beerse and Olen. With this project, Aurubis is helping to keep strategically important metals for Europe in the circular economy.
Inge Hofkens, COO Multimetal Recycling of the Aurubis Group, explained: “BOB demonstrates our commitment to innovation and a circular economy. With this plant, we are taking recycling to a new level as we can optimally process the valuable metals from dynamic and constantly changing input materials and recycling markets. This will strengthen our core business and further contribute to the European circular economy.”
A milestone for Aurubis Olen
“Today is an important day in the history of our company,” emphasized Hans Van de Water, Managing Director of Aurubis Olen. “The new recycling plant enables us to cover the entire production cycle in-house - a real milestone for the Olen site. This is the result of the collective efforts of our entire team, from the planning and construction phase through to commissioning.”
Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele praised Aurubis' willingness to innovate and invest in Flanders: “Projects like BOB are of great strategic importance for Flanders. The innovative and sustainable character and the additional jobs that this high-tech plant will create underline our ambition for Flemish industry. This investment shows how Flanders is positioning itself on the world stage as an attractive region for entrepreneurship and sustainability.”
Sustainability and employment: Investing in the future
The new recycling plant in Olen represents a total investment of around 85 million euros and has created 30 new jobs. The plant meets the highest environmental standards in Europe.
Together with the Belgian site in Beerse, Aurubis Olen was recently recognized by the Trends Impact Awards as the “Most Sustainable Company 2024” in the circular economy category.
Second major investment project in Belgium
The recycling plant in Olen is already the Aurubis Group's second major investment project in Belgium as part of the current corporate strategy. In September 2024, Aurubis opened the ASPA plant (Advanced Sludge Processing by Aurubis) at the Beerse site.
Around 700 employees work at the recycling site in Olen, while Aurubis Beerse employs around 500 people. These investments underline Aurubis' leading role in sustainable metal production and the circular economy.
