Romanian developer Iulius has launched Europe's largest private bioremediation project, investing €29 million to clean 38 hectares of contaminated land in downtown Constanța. The project will transform the former Oil Terminal platform into an integrated urban regeneration complex worth over €800 million.
The cleanup process uses an innovative Romanian scientific method developed by researchers at the National Research & Development Institute for Pedology, Agrochemistry and Environmental Protection (ICPA) in Bucharest. The team created a formulation of natural microorganisms that can absorb hydrocarbons, boosting the soil's natural healing process and reducing remediation time.
"This area has held a decades-long historical role in the development of Constanța and has been a driver of economic growth. We aim to transform this place from a symbol of yesteryear's industry into a clean and modern urban regeneration project," said Raluca Munteanu, Development Manager at Iulius.
The contaminated site housed an oil depot with over 30 tanks containing petroleum products for about 80 years. The tanks, built around 100 years ago, were no longer technically viable for remediation. "The platform has been out of use for more than a decade now due to the incompatibility of these operations with the city center," explained Sorin Ciutureanu, General Manager of Oil Terminal.
Iulius invested over €420,000 in research infrastructure, including €300,000 for a laboratory at ICPA and €120,000 for a chemical testing laboratory at Ovidius University of Constanța. The bioremediation process includes soil treatment, physical isolation of contaminants, and groundwater purification. The future development, designed by Foster + Partners, will include cultural venues, retail spaces, offices, parks, and connectivity solutions to make Constanta an active destination year-round.
