Aduro begins global site selection process for demonstration plant

Aduro Clean Technologies Inc., London, Ontario, says it has begun a global site selection process as part of its demonstration plant program, and is focusing on locations across Canada, Europe and Mexico.

In its Next Generation Process (NGP) pilot plant in Ontario, the company, which chemically processes feedstocks such as plastic scrap, heavy bitumen and oils, says it is validating its technical basis for scale-up, confirming key equipment choices and generating the data needed to optimize “scale-sensitive parameters.”

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Aduro says the pilot plant remains on schedule and preparations for the demonstration plant builds on that foundation. “Site selection is a critical step,” the company says, adding that it “provides the basis for jurisdictional permitting requirements and economic modeling, and ensures access to reliable feedstock supply, sorting and collection infrastructure, and the utilities and workforce needed for effective operations.”

In recent months, the company says a multidisciplinary team spanning engineering, operations, finance and commercial development have advanced the project through a structured review process, and it expects to finalize a shortlist of locations before the end of this year, with a final decision planned for shortly after.

As part of this work, Aduro says it is applying standardized evaluation criteria, including:

• Feedstock and logistics alignment: Proximity to reliable plastic scrap supply streams and efficient inbound transport networks.
• Offtake and market connectivity: Regional demand for recycled intermediates, with emphasis on meeting producer obligations under extended producer responsibility programs.
• Mass balance readiness: The ability to implement third-party certified chain-of-custody systems, such as ISCC Plus, so offtake partners can confidently claim circular content.
• Regulatory and permitting pathways: Regional frameworks governing environmental approvals and how they intersect with recycling and circular economy legislation.
• Incentives and local support: Availability of industrial development incentives, community engagement and partnership opportunities.
• Utilities and infrastructure: Energy, water, wastewater and transport links necessary to support continuous operations at demonstration scale.
• Future expansion: Sites that can accommodate growth from an initial 8,000 tons per year and scaling to a potential 16,000-20,000 tons per year, preserving flexibility for future commercial-scale deployment at the selected location.

“Advancing site selection is a critical step in the demonstration plant program,” Aduro CEO Ofer Vicus says. “The process allows Aduro to begin detailed permitting and economic modeling, guided by clear criteria such as feedstock access, logistics, certification readiness and regional incentives. By approaching this work with discipline and foresight, we are creating the conditions for a facility that demonstrates robust environmental and commercial performance, while ensuring the program remains on schedule and preserves options for future scale-up.”