Ence Secures €24.7M for Recycled Fiber Bioplant

Ence Energía y Celulosa has secured provisional approval for €24.7 million in funding for its bleached recycled fiber bioplant project in As Pontes, Galicia, under Spain’s Industrial Decarbonization PERTE program.

The €24,691,726 grant appears on the provisional list of projects selected under the program supporting highly efficient, low-carbon manufacturing facilities, published by Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism.

Producing Bleached Recycled Fiber

The planned facility will produce bleached recycled fiber from recovered paper and cardboard, extending the use of recycled materials and supporting circular economy objectives.

Unlike conventional pulp mills, the plant will rely entirely on recovered fiber rather than wood. According to the company, the project would be the first facility in Europe designed to produce bleached recycled fiber from recovered paper and cardboard.

The process will apply TCF (totally chlorine-free) bleaching technology to recycled fibers.

Low-Carbon Industrial Design

The plant will operate without fossil fuels. Renewable energy generated from by-products of the local forestry industry will supply the site, while the process has been designed to minimize water consumption.

In August 2025, the project received its Integrated Environmental Authorization (IEA) from the regional government of Galicia.

Redevelopment of the As Pontes Site

The facility will be built on the industrial grounds of the former As Pontes coal-fired power plant, positioning the project within the region’s broader energy transition.

Alongside the bioplant initiative, Ence is also developing Regatex, a pilot textile recycling project. Working with Swedish startup Sharetex, the company has produced recycled cellulose from polycotton, a material traditionally difficult to recycle.

Source: Paper Advance