Kemira plans a EUR 20 million activated carbon reactivation plant in Tarragona to strengthen Iberian water treatment capacity by 2029.
Kemira has unveiled plans to significantly strengthen its water treatment capabilities in Southern Europe through the construction of a new activated carbon reactivation facility at its Tarragona production site in Tarragona, Spain. The proposed plant will focus on regenerating spent activated carbon used in drinking water treatment applications across Iberia, reinforcing Kemira’s commitment to supporting municipalities and industrial customers in meeting increasingly stringent water quality standards.
The planned investment represents a meaningful expansion of Kemira’s existing Tarragona operations. By adding dedicated reactivation capacity for activated carbon, the company aims to serve the growing needs of both drinking water and wastewater treatment markets in the region. Once operational, the facility will provide substantial additional capacity to process used granular and pelletized activated carbon, enabling it to be reused efficiently in water purification systems.
This initiative aligns closely with Kemira’s long-term strategic ambition to double its water-related revenue. As water quality regulations continue to tighten across Europe, utilities and industrial operators are facing greater pressure to remove micropollutants and emerging contaminants from water supplies. By investing in local reactivation capabilities, Kemira is positioning itself to respond proactively to this demand while strengthening its regional service footprint.
The project has now entered its pre-engineering phase. During this stage, detailed technical planning, design work, and feasibility assessments will be conducted. The final investment decision will depend on the outcome of this phase as well as the completion of required environmental permitting procedures. If the project proceeds as planned, the new reactivation plant is expected to begin operations by the end of 2029. The total investment value is estimated at approximately EUR 20 million.
According to Tuija Pohjolainen-Hiltunen, Executive Vice President of Water Solutions at Kemira, regulatory developments are a key driver behind the expansion. Increasingly strict standards for the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other micropollutants in drinking water and wastewater are accelerating demand for advanced treatment solutions. Kemira aims to support its customers not only with chemical products but also with integrated services such as activated carbon reactivation. Establishing this new facility in Spain will enhance the company’s local water treatment offering and enable it to better capture growth opportunities in the Iberian market.
Activated carbon remains one of the most widely used and effective technologies in water treatment. It is commonly employed to eliminate unwanted taste and odor from drinking water, as well as to remove trace contaminants, including PFAS and other persistent organic pollutants. Over time, activated carbon becomes saturated and loses its adsorption efficiency. Reactivation restores the material’s adsorption capacity through a controlled thermal regeneration process, allowing it to be reused multiple times. This not only reduces waste but also supports circular economy principles by extending the lifecycle of valuable filtration media.
With this investment, Kemira is reinforcing its strategic focus on sustainable water solutions, operational efficiency, and regional growth in critical environmental infrastructure.
