Ragn-Sells invests in a second plant for phosphorus recovery in Europe

The environmental company Ragn-Sells has announced an investment in a new plant for recovering phosphorus from incinerated sewage sludge in Helsingborg, Sweden. This facility will be the second to utilize the Ash2Phos technology developed by the innovation company EasyMining. Together with the ongoing plant project in Schkopau, Germany, this investment significantly increases Europe’s capacity for sustainable phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge ashes. The new facility in Sweden is planned to start-up in 2028.

“If we are serious about creating a sustainable society, we must reuse the resources we already have, over and over again. With this new plant, we are scaling up our ability to recover phosphorus and provide Europe with a sustainable alternative to mined resources. It’s a vital step in addressing global challenges like resource scarcity and climate change,” says Anders Kihl, Head of Strategy and R&D at Ragn-Sells.

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for all life on the planet but also a resource that is very unevenly distributed with one single nation controlling some 75% of global reserves.The Ash2Phos process, developed by EasyMining, enables the recovery of over 90% of the phosphorus in ash from incinerated sewage sludge. The recycled phosphorus can replace virgin phosphorus in fertilisers and as feed phosphate, reducing dependence on mining of limited virgin resources.

“Our technology turns waste into valuable resources, enabling a circular economy and contributing to a more resilient food system in Europe and beyond,” says Jan Svärd, CEO at EasyMining.

Phosphorus recovery is crucial not only for agriculture but also for addressing global emissions. According to the UN, nearly half of all climate emissions come from extracting and processing virgin raw materials. Recycled phosphorus is chemically equivalent to mined phosphorus but contains fewer contaminants, such as heavy metals, making it safer for use in the food supply chain.

In addition to its use as a sustainable fertiliser in agriculture, recycled phosphorus from the Ash2Phos process also serves as a valuable resource in animal feed production. The phosphate it produces is safe, highly digestible for animals, and contributes to closing the loop on phosphorus use. In November 2023, Ragn-Sells and EasyMining partnered with Canada based Friesen Group to develop a market for a premium feed product, demonstrating the versatility of recovered phosphorus.

The plant in Helsingborg, Sweden, will have the capacity to process 30,000 tonnes of ash annually, producing 15,000 tonnes of phosphorus in the form of calcium phosphate. Together with the plant under construction in Germany, Ragn-Sells is strengthening its ability to meet growing demand for recycling of phosphorus from sewage sludge ashes.

“This single plant in Helsingborg can reduce CO₂ emissions while providing a sustainable, locally sourced alternative to mined phosphorus. Scaling this technology is key to addressing the global phosphorus challenge and ensuring sustainable food production,” adds Anders Kihl. “Moreover, this facility will enable further circular material flows in the future, fostering innovation and sustainability.”

The project has received SEK 51 million in support from Klimatklivet, Sweden's state investment aid for climate projects.

The first Ash2Phos-based facility, under construction in Germany, is expected to begin production in 2027, with initial orders already secured.

For further information, please contact:
Anders Kihl, Head of Strategy and R&D at Ragn-Sells, +46709272684, anders.kihl@ragnsells.com
Jan Svärd, CEO at EasyMining, +46709786474, jan.svard@easymining.com
Emma Ranerfors, Press Officer at Ragn-Sells, +46709272400, press@ragnsells.com 

Facts: Phosphorus

• The element phosphorus is a component of mineral fertilizers and feed, and is essential for agricultural food production. At the same time, demand is increasing to enable the green transition as phosphorus can be used in the production of new batteries.
• Phosphorus currently comes from phosphate rock mined in quarries.
• The EU has very little domestic production of phosphorus and is dependent on imports, primarily from Morocco (Western Sahara) and Russia.
• Fertilisers are explicitly exempt from the EU's sanctions against Russia, which means that trade has been able to continue.
• Phosphorus is a finite resource and is on the EU's list of critical raw materials (Critical Raw Materials, CRM).

Facts: Ash2Phos plant in Helsingborg

• The plant's permit became legally binding on May 21, 2024, and in December 2024, the Ragn-Sells board of directors made an investment decision for the facility.
• The process designed for the first plant in Sweden (in Helsingborg) will be able to handle approximately 30,000 tonnes of sewage sludge ash per year, which will generate approximately 15,000 tonnes of phosphorus product per year (in the form of calcium phosphate).
• The product has attractive properties as both fertiliser and feed phosphate with low levels of contaminants.
• In addition to recovering pure phosphorus, the facility will also produce a recycled sand fraction that can replace cement in concrete or sand as a construction material.
• Iron and aluminium precipitation chemicals are also extracted in the plant as iron chloride and aluminium hydroxide. These two precipitation chemicals are used today directly and indirectly to precipitate sludge in wastewater treatment plants.

Facts: Klimatklivet
Klimatklivet is a state investment aid for local and regional measures that reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that affect the climate. The initiative is part of the state budget decided by the Swedish parliament.

The investment is co-financed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) and the European Union NextGenerationEU.

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