InfraLeuna receives building permit for expansion of wastewater treatment at Leuna chemical site

The president of the State Administration Office, Thomas Pleye, today handed over the approval notice for the second construction phase of the expansion of the central wastewater treatment plant at the Leuna chemical site to InfraLeuna GmbH. This notice clears the way for the construction of a third aerobic wastewater treatment line, which will ensure continuous two-line operation at the site.

Construction work began on December 2, 2024, and completion is scheduled for December 2027. InfraLeuna is investing a total of €24.35 million in the second construction phase.

The central wastewater treatment plant is operated by InfraLeuna and serves to reliably treat all wastewater generated at the chemical site. Until now, wastewater treatment has been carried out in two aerobic treatment lines. With the third line, two-line operation can be permanently ensured in the future. This guarantees continuous wastewater treatment even during scheduled maintenance and repairs. 

"The expansion of the wastewater treatment plant sends a strong signal for environmental and water protection in Saxony-Anhalt. It shows how important close and trusting cooperation between industry and administration is for implementing sustainable infrastructure projects quickly and responsibly. This not only strengthens Leuna as a location, but also makes the state more attractive for innovative industrial settlements," said Thomas Pleye, President of the State Administration Office of Saxony-Anhalt, at the handover of the approval notice.

“With this investment, we are creating the conditions to ensure that efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment remains guaranteed even with further growth at the site, whether through new settlements or production expansions by existing companies. In this way, we are making an important contribution to the future viability of the chemical site,” explained Dr. Christof Günther, Managing Director of InfraLeuna, during the handover.

Advantages of the new treatment line
The new aerobic wastewater treatment line supplements the existing plant with a modern biological stage that includes the central treatment steps of denitrification, nitrification, and secondary clarification (sedimentation). Instead of a tower biology design, the line will be constructed in reinforced concrete on a higher extension area. This has several advantages. The plant can be better integrated hydraulically into the overall process. At the same time, particularly corrosion-resistant materials are used, which increases the service life of the plant and brings additional sustainability benefits. The new design reduces maintenance requirements – both in terms of time and costs. In addition, the energy required for pumps is reduced, which increases operational efficiency.

Three-stage overall planning
The expansion will be carried out on the basis of a long-term overall plan in three construction phases:

• 1st construction phase: Construction of an anaerobic pretreatment plant for treating wastewater streams with high organic carbon content (commissioning will take place simultaneously with the commissioning of the newly established businesses at the chemical site).
• 2nd construction phase: Construction of the now approved third aerobic treatment line (completion in 2027).
• 3rd construction phase (in preparation): Replacement of the two existing lines with two new, modern treatment lines.

With this expansion strategy, InfraLeuna GmbH is ensuring that wastewater treatment at the Leuna chemical site will continue to meet increasing requirements in the future and that the quality of service for all companies at the site will be guaranteed in the long term.