The announcement of a €25 million investment and the creation of up to one hundred jobs in Pedrola has brought the name of Shenghe to the forefront in Aragon. Behind the project is a Chinese company specialized in a very specific area that is becoming increasingly relevant to the energy transition: the recovery of materials used in battery manufacturing and the development of new materials for this industry.
Shenghe Energy Technology was founded in 2009 and has centered much of its activity around technologies for recovering and purifying N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, commonly referred to as NMP. This solvent is used, among other industrial applications, in the production processes for lithium-ion batteries.
Its specialization helps to understand the significance of the investment announced in Aragon. Shenghe is not arriving in Pedrola to manufacture batteries but to position itself within one of the links in the industrial chain: recovering material used during their production, purifying it, and ensuring that it can be reintroduced into the production process.
Technology to Close the Production Cycle
Shenghe’s activities are primarily focused on two areas. On one hand, it develops complete solutions for the recovery of NMP, which include recovery systems, distillation and purification facilities, and storage systems. On the other, it produces conductive materials intended for battery manufacturers, including carbon nanotubes and conductive pastes.
The company also offers comprehensive projects, from process design and engineering to equipment manufacturing, installation, commissioning, and training.
This combination places its activity at the intersection of the chemical industry, the circular economy, and the new energy industry. The goal is not merely to manage waste but to recover a product of sufficient quality to be reused industrially.
In the case of the announced project for Pedrola, the facility is designed to process up to 100,000 tons of NMP annually. The planned process includes gas recovery and distillation until reaching a purity above 99.92%, along with energy recovery systems capable of reclaiming over 80% of the heat generated, according to data provided by the Aragon government.
A Company with High Technological Specialization
One of the distinguishing elements of Shenghe is its commitment to research applied to a highly specialized industrial niche.
According to the company’s corporate information, its technological structure includes three enterprises recognized in China as national high-tech companies, two firms with provincial awards related to specialization and innovation, and a portfolio that exceeds 80 patents.
Shenghe also claims to have its own production centers certified under various ISO standards as well as research and development teams dedicated to both NMP recovery processes and new conductive materials.
Specialization becomes increasingly important as global battery production rises. The expansion of electric vehicles and energy storage systems is generating a much broader industrial chain around batteries beyond just cell manufacturing. Materials, components, chemicals, solvent recovery, recycling, and reuse are also part of this ecosystem.
It is precisely in this market that Shenghe seeks to position itself.
An Expansion That Has Already Left China
The arrival in Aragon is part of a broader international strategy. According to data released by the Aragon government, Shenghe currently has twelve international subsidiaries, present in countries and territories such as Spain, Hungary, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
This network is complemented by three production centers in China and a factory in Indonesia that began operations in 2026. The future Pedrola facility will be integrated into this international network and will be one of the new industrial centers for the company outside its home market.
Shenghe had already indicated in 2026 that it was expanding its international infrastructure and preparing for its establishment in Spain. The company also participated this year in The Battery Show Europe, held in Stuttgart, one of the specialized international gatherings for the battery industry, where it presented its NMP recovery solutions and carbon nanotube-based materials.
Why Is Its Arrival in Aragon Relevant?
The significance of the operation can initially be measured in the figures: €25 million in investment, up to one hundred jobs, 20,000 square meters of surface area, and a planned treatment capacity of 100,000 tons annually.
However, there is a second industrial reading. Shenghe’s arrival introduces a specialized activity in Aragon that is directly related to the battery value chain and the circular economy.
The plant will allow a material used during manufacturing to be recovered, purified, and reused, reducing the consumption of virgin raw materials and the waste associated with the process. The location in Aragon may also enable the company to bring this technology and treatment capacity closer to the European market.
The project also gains importance from the perspective of international investment. Aragon Exterior undertook more than 40 actions between May 2025 and April 2026 to facilitate the establishment, collaborating with the company and organizations such as Invest in Spain, local governments, engineering firms, and consulting companies.
Pedrola, A Piece of Shenghe’s International Strategy
The choice of Pedrola thus represents not just the opening of a new factory. For Shenghe, it signifies a step in its internationalization process and its approach to the European market.
For Aragon, the question will be to what extent this investment can contribute to generating a broader ecosystem around batteries, energy storage, and the circular economy.
Major industrial transformations do not rely solely on the plants that produce the final product. They also require companies capable of providing materials, technology, services, components, and solutions for recovery and recycling.
This is precisely the industrial space that Shenghe occupies. A company that has been relatively unknown until now in Spain, but specialized in an activity that is gaining importance as Europe develops its own value chain linked to batteries.
