Aduro Signs Offtake LOI for Hydrochemolytic Oil with Pilot-to-FOAK Validation Program

LONDON, Ontario, March 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aduro Clean Technologies Inc. (“Aduro” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ADUR) (CSE: ACT) (FSE: 9D5), a clean technology company using the power of chemistry to transform lower value feedstocks, like waste plastics, heavy bitumen, and renewable oils, into resources for the 21

century, announces that it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (“LOI”) with a leading independent international commodities trading company active in the sourcing, logistics, and marketing of naphtha and certified circular hydrocarbon streams. The LOI establishes a framework to evaluate and qualify Hydrochemolytic™ oil produced by the Company for future offtake agreements.

The LOI includes a committed offtake arrangement for the initial production parcel tied to the Company’s First-of-a-Kind (“FOAK”) Industrial Plant planned for construction at Chemelot Industrial Park in Geleen, Netherlands. It establishes a structured Pilot-to-FOAK validation program intended to determine product value, confirm specification alignment, and evaluate reproducibility of Hydrochemolytic™ oil while supporting downstream market positioning as part of the circular hydrocarbon markets.

Under Phase 1 of the engagement, Aduro will provide samples of Hydrochemolytic™ oil produced at its Next Generation Process (“NGP”) Pilot Plant. This work will focus on product characterization, including contaminant profiling, boiling range distribution, and alignment to downstream upgrading and steam-cracking requirements. Testing and analytics will primarily be conducted by Aduro, incorporating technical input and commercial feedback from the trading company to establish product specifications, assess reproducibility, and determine commercial value. Phase 1 is non-commercial in nature and is intended to advance the technical and economic characterization of industrial-scale production.

Phase 2 establishes a commercial validation step upon commissioning of the FOAK Industrial Plant. The trading company has committed to purchase the initial production parcel of Hydrochemolytic™ oil produced at the FOAK facility. This parcel is intended to support downstream customer qualification, market development activities, and demonstration of production reliability and reproducibility at industrial scale. Following completion of this initial parcel, the parties intend to engage in discussions toward a longer-term commercial framework aligned with full FOAK production capacity. The arrangement is non-exclusive and preserves the Company’s ability to engage additional offtake partners as production scales. Except for the commitment to purchase the initial production parcel, the LOI is non-binding and subject to the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements.

Policy developments are expected to increase demand for certified circular hydrocarbon feedstocks within the petrochemical sector. The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (“PPWR”) introduces progressively tightening recycled content targets for plastic packaging beginning in 2030, reinforcing the need for traceable, mass balance certified inputs. Steam crackers consume tens of millions of tonnes of hydrocarbon feedstock annually to produce the building blocks of new plastics. Even limited substitution with certified circular hydrocarbons represents a meaningful opportunity to increase circular content within existing petrochemical supply chains.

According to industry research published by MarkNtel Advisors, the global chemical recycling market was valued at approximately USD 15.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 9.8 percent through 2030. In response, polymer producers, petrochemical companies, and commodity traders are working to secure feedstock streams that offer traceability, consistent quality, recognized sustainability certifications such as ISCC Plus, and a credible pathway to industrial scale. Structured offtake arrangements are therefore an important step toward broader market adoption.

Hydrochemolytic™ Technology converts polyolefin waste into a circular hydrocarbon product intended for integration into conventional petrochemical upgrading and steam-cracking infrastructure. The product is characterized by low concentrations of olefins and heteroatoms, properties that are expected to support processing with minimal additional treatment relative to many conventional chemical recycling outputs. Pilot-scale steam cracking tests previously conducted with an industry partner demonstrated stable cracking performance under pilot operating conditions.

“This LOI brings together two important elements for us, technical validation and an initial commercial framework,” said Eric Appelman, Chief Revenue Officer at Aduro. “The pilot stage work allows us to establish product specifications and determine commercial value of Hydrochemolytic™ oil with a global trading partner while the commitment to purchase the first FOAK production parcel establishes the product’s initial commercial pathway.”

“Securing a structured offtake commitment at the FOAK stage reflects our effort to align technology validation and market demand,” said Ofer Vicus, Chief Executive Officer of Aduro. “Circular feedstocks must meet the requirements of existing petrochemical infrastructure while also satisfying regulatory and certification standards. This LOI links our Pilot validation work directly to industrial production and marks an important step in our milestone-driven commercialization pathway.”

About Aduro Clean Technologies

Aduro Clean Technologies is a developer of patented water-based technologies to chemically recycle waste plastics; convert heavy crude and bitumen into lighter, more valuable oil; and transform renewable oils into higher-value fuels or renewable chemicals. The Company’s Hydrochemolytic™ technology relies on water as a critical agent in a chemistry platform that operates at relatively low temperatures and cost, a game-changing approach that converts low-value feedstocks into resources for the 21st century.