Strong Interest in the Leuna Chemical Site

Opening Day Offers Exclusive Glimpses Behind the Site Gates

Last Saturday, September 12, 2026, the Leuna chemical site opened its doors. Together with the City of Leuna, Wohnungswirtschaft Leuna GmbH, and numerous companies based in the area, InfraLeuna GmbH hosted what is now the 14th Open Day, featuring a city festival and a tenants’ celebration.

Several thousand guests accepted the invitation and learned about the development of this historic chemical site, the companies based there, and career opportunities in Leuna.

The guided tours and the field trips to selected companies were particularly popular.
A highlight was the field trip to the TotalEnergies Raffinerie Mitteldeutschland. It provided fascinating insights into the scale and operations of one of the most important companies at the Leuna chemical site. During the tour, key production facilities and processes, current transformation projects, and the refinery’s importance to the energy supply and the regional economy were explained.
The high demand demonstrated just how strong the interest is among people from Leuna and the surrounding region in the companies, facilities, and developments behind the factory gates.

“The Open Day offers a special opportunity to give the general public a better understanding of our refinery and our work at this site. Direct interaction with visitors is very valuable to us. We are delighted by the great interest shown and by the chance to work with InfraLeuna to demonstrate just how diverse and efficient the Leuna chemical site is,” says Diana Heuer, Head of Communications, TotalEnergies Raffinerie Mitteldeutschland GmbH.

In total, more than 2,700 free tickets were used for the sightseeing and destination tours at the chemical site. The tickets for destination tours to selected companies on the site were almost completely sold out by noon.

In addition to the guided tour to TotalEnergies, moderated tours provided a comprehensive overview of the chemical site. Other companies at the site, such as DOW Olefinverbund GmbH, the Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes (CBP), Innospec Leuna GmbH, LEUNA-Harze GmbH, Linde GmbH, and MVV Umwelt Asset GmbH, also opened their doors and provided vivid insights into their fields of activity. Visitors were not only able to learn about modern facilities and industrial processes but also to talk with employees on site.

“The enthusiastic response shows just how closely the chemical site is connected to Leuna and the entire region. The Open Day promotes transparency and facilitates interactions that aren’t possible in this form during the day-to-day work routine. I’m particularly pleased that the companies at the site are joining us in offering a glimpse behind the site gates and engaging with the public. My thanks go to everyone involved who, with great dedication, made this successful day possible,” says Dr. Christof Günther, Managing Director of InfraLeuna GmbH.

InfraLeuna also showcased itself as a site operator and service provider with its diverse range of activities. Visitors received information about career and training opportunities, as well as insights into the work of the plant fire department and the logistics division, which presented their technology and equipment.

At more than 30 information booths run by various companies and organizations based at the Leuna chemical site, as well as hands-on activity stations, families were able to learn more, while food and musical entertainment were plentiful.

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) also made its debut at the Open Day. At the information booth, visitors learned all about the world’s largest research and demonstration facility for the production of electricity-based fuels – the so-called Power-to-Liquid Fuels Technology Platform (TPP) – currently under construction at the Leuna chemical site. Schoolchildren were able to explore the chemical process from electricity to synthetic fuel in a fun, interactive way through a quiz.

“Our first participation in the Open Day was a valuable opportunity for us to engage with the local community and present our work to a broad audience. Leuna embodies the close connection between industry, research, and new technological approaches. We were very pleased with the open exchange on this topic and the great interest shown by visitors at our information booth,” explains Anja Tröster, Communications Officer at the Institute of Combustion Technology at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

The Open Day was held in conjunction with the city festival and the tenants’ celebration. This resulted in a diverse day of events around the chemical plant and the main gate plaza, bringing together industry, the local community, and family-friendly activities.

Another highlight this year was the city competition through which EnviaM and MITGAS support nonprofit projects: the Dorfverein Ockendorf e. V. and the TSV Leuna e. V. competed with great athletic dedication to “cycle their way” to the prize money for their projects. The suspense, however, remains – the club members still have to wait for the results of the sports competition against some 20 other municipalities.

“The Open Day and the city festival highlight in a special way just how closely the City of Leuna and the chemical site are connected. It was wonderful to see how residents took advantage of this opportunity to experience Leuna in all its diversity,” says Michael Bedla, Mayor of Leuna.

Michael Bedla feels compelled to express his gratitude to everyone whose dedication to the organization, preparation, and execution of this celebration made it possible in the first place.

“The joint tenants’ and city festival offers a wonderful opportunity to provide our tenants and all guests with a varied program for the whole family. At the same time, an event like this strengthens neighborly bonds and our connection to our city. We’re delighted by the great response and the many personal encounters at Haupttorplatz,” explains Steffen Gebhardt, Managing Director of Wohnungswirtschaft Leuna GmbH.

The Open Day at the Leuna chemical site concluded on a thoroughly positive note. The site presented itself as a high-performing and forward-looking industrial hub that plays an important role not only in the region but also beyond. Given the high level of interest and positive response, the organizers have already announced the next open house for early September 2028.

InfraLeuna GmbH would like to thank the participating companies and organizations in the area, the City of Leuna, Wohnungswirtschaft Leuna GmbH, as well as all employees, clubs, cultural figures, emergency responders, and other supporters whose dedication played a key role in the event’s success.