IULIUS has initiated the most extensive private bioremediation process in Europe, investing over €29 million to rehabilitate a 38-hectare contaminated industrial site in central Constanța. This initiative marks a significant step in the company’s broader €800 million urban regeneration project, which aims to transform the former Oil Terminal platform into a modern mixed-use urban district.

The site, inactive for over a decade, was previously home to more than 30 oil storage tanks. The contamination, accumulated over nearly 80 years of industrial activity, posed a long-term environmental risk. Through this investment, IULIUS seeks to convert the historically polluted land into a multifunctional development that will include cultural, educational, office, retail, recreational, and public utility facilities, along with green spaces, a botanical garden, and entertainment venues.

The bioremediation project uses a scientifically innovative method developed by the National Research and Development Institute for Soil Science, Agrochemistry and Environmental Protection (ICPA) in Bucharest. Researchers created a custom formula of natural microorganisms—harvested directly from the site—that break down petroleum hydrocarbons. The process involves enriching the soil with these biopreparations, significantly reducing the remediation timeline.

As part of the initiative, IULIUS has also funded two research laboratories. One, equipped with €300,000 worth of high-tech equipment, enables mass cultivation of the microorganisms used in the treatment. Another, set up at “Ovidius” University in Constanța with a €120,000 investment, focuses on chemical analysis to monitor pollution levels.

The remediation includes both soil and groundwater treatment. Subsurface water will be pumped, filtered in a purification facility, and reused for non-potable functions like irrigation. To prevent the spread of contaminants, the site is being sealed with a high-density geomembrane.

The project’s technical design was developed by Auditeco, while groundwater remediation is handled by Hoelscher Wasserbau, a German company with six decades of experience in this field.

“This zone was historically vital for Constanța’s economic growth. Now, we are giving it a new life, as a clean, vibrant space that integrates with the community,” said Raluca Munteanu, Development Director at IULIUS.

The bioremediation phase follows extensive archaeological research and precedes the construction of the urban development, designed by world-renowned architecture firm Foster + Partners. In parallel, IULIUS has established a dendrological nursery with over 1,100 mature trees to be transplanted into the future green areas of the project.