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Geminor to add 165k tonnes to domestic EfW fuel supply

Geminor
Image credit: Geminor

Waste management company Geminor has announced plans to significantly increase its domestic Energy from Waste (EfW) fuel supply volumes in the UK.

Following a strategic review of its investments and operating model, the company will see contracted volumes of domestic fuel increase to around 250,000 tonnes per year from 2026, up from approximately 85,000 tonnes in 2025.

The move marks a notable rebalancing of the company’s UK approach, which has historically combined export-led outlets with the development of alternative domestic recovery solutions such as advanced thermal treatment (gasification).

The company said the shift will see a stronger focus on new and expanded contracted domestic offtake with established mass-burn EfW operators, while “maintaining export routes as a core part of its operations”.

Oliver Caunce, Country Manager UK and Ireland at Geminor, explained: “Recent market conditions underlined the need to balance export flexibility with stronger domestic fuel supply solutions.

“While early-stage technologies did not deliver sustainable commercial outcomes, the experience has shaped a more robust operating model built around proven infrastructure and long-term partnerships.”

Domestic fuel supply capacity ‘increasingly important’

The company will now place greater emphasis on supplying fuel to established, mass-burn EfW facilities in the UK, supported by stricter quality controls and long-term feedstock agreements.

As part of the shift, the firm has secured new long-term municipal and commercial contracts across the UK.

These include agreements with local authorities in Guernsey and Swansea, alongside direct investment in additional fuel preparation and storage capacity to support higher domestic throughput.

The company said recent market pressures highlighted the need for a more balanced structure between export flexibility and domestic supply security.

Håvard Framnes, CEO of Geminor, commented: “Geminor operates with a long-term perspective across all our European markets.

“In the UK, this means investing through periods of transition and adapting our operating model to evolving infrastructure realities, while continuing to support customers as domestic fuel supply capacity becomes increasingly important.”

Redirection into export markets

Since 2015, Geminor has pursued a strategy aimed at building flexible domestic recovery capacity alongside its export operations.

This included investment in alternative solutions representing up to around 350,000 tonnes of annual capacity.

However, the company said early-stage technologies did not consistently meet fuel quality and performance requirements. As a result, expected operational and commercial outcomes were not fully realised.

A key setback during this phase was the stalling of the EnergyWorks Hull project, which had been intended to provide flexible domestic recovery capacity for alternative fuel streams.

When domestic outlets did not materialise as planned, volumes that had been structured for UK offtake – including Hull-related contracts – were redirected to export markets.

According to Geminor, these contracts had not been designed around export economics and were further impacted by rising treatment costs.

Financial loss in 2024

This contributed to sustained losses over several years, with the financial impact peaking between 2023 and 2025, including one-off restructuring costs.

According to Geminor UK’s financial report, turnover fell to £62.1 million from £79.7 million in 2024, reflecting weaker conditions in the UK export market for waste-derived fuels.

The company reported a post-tax loss of £3.79 million, compared with a £1.4 million profit the previous year, with operating losses of £4.38 million and gross losses of £880,000 after higher treatment and operating costs.

Despite the challenges, Geminor said the infrastructure, upstream contract positions and operational capabilities developed during this earlier phase now provide a stronger platform for domestic fuel supply growth.

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