How to Make Chemfuel in Rimworld (Best Methods)

Chemfuel is one of the most useful resources in Rimworld. You can use it for:
- Power generation ⚡
- Mortars 💥
- Transport pods 🚀
- Flame weapons 🔥
If you’re wondering how to make chemfuel in Rimworld, here are the best methods — from early game to late game.
🛢️ What Is Chemfuel in Rimworld?
Chemfuel is a combustible resource used to power various machines and weapons.
Common uses include:
- Fuelled generators
- Drop pods / transport pods
- Mortars
- Incendiary weapons
- Certain mods and advanced systems
👉 Having a stable chemfuel supply becomes very important mid to late game.
🧪 Method 1: Make Chemfuel at a Biofuel Refinery
This is the main vanilla method.
🏗️ Step 1: Research Biofuel Refining
Before you can produce chemfuel, you need:
👉 Research: Biofuel Refining
Once completed, you can build:
- Biofuel Refinery
🏭 Step 2: Build a Biofuel Refinery

To build it, you’ll need:
- Steel
- Components
Place it somewhere indoors if possible.
🌽 Step 3: Use Organic Materials
A biofuel refinery converts organic matter into chemfuel.
You can use:
- Wood
- Hay
- Food
- Plant matter
- Corpses (yes, really)
- Organic waste
⚙️ Step 4: Create the Chemfuel Bill
- Click the refinery
- Select Bills
- Add:
👉 Make Chemfuel From Organic Matter
Colonists will automatically start refining materials into chemfuel.
🐄 Method 2: Boomalope Farming (Best Passive Method)
Boomalopes are living chemfuel factories.
🐾 How It Works
Tamed Boomalopes can be milked for:
👉 Chemfuel
This produces a steady passive supply with almost no processing needed.
⚠️ Important Warning
Boomalopes explode when they die.
So:
- Keep them away from your main base
- Use fireproof pens if possible
☣️ Method 3: Convert Waste (Biotech DLC)
With Biotech, some systems and waste processing methods can generate chemfuel indirectly.
This is more advanced and usually late-game focused.
🔥 Best Uses for Chemfuel
Once you have a supply, chemfuel is amazing for:
⚡ Fuelled Generators
Reliable power early game.
🚀 Transport Pods
Essential for:
- Trading
- Raids
- Toxic waste disposal
💣 Mortars
Needed for explosive shells.
🔥 Flame Weapons
Useful but risky.
⚠️ Chemfuel Safety Tips
Chemfuel is EXTREMELY flammable.
Never:
- Store huge amounts near bedrooms
- Put it beside generators
- Keep it near batteries or mortar shells
💡 Best practice:
- Use a separate stone storage room
🧠 Pro Tips for Easy Chemfuel Production
- Grow extra haygrass specifically for refining
- Use boomalopes for passive income
- Keep refinery workers near storage
- Store chemfuel in small stacks to reduce explosion risk
🎯 Final Thoughts
If you want to know how to make chemfuel in Rimworld, the easiest methods are:
✅ Biofuel refinery
✅ Boomalope farming
Both are powerful, and once you have a steady supply, your colony becomes much more advanced and mobile.
👉 Just remember: chemfuel is incredibly useful… and incredibly explosive.
Roisin
Roisin is a lead editor and gaming enthusiast, bringing you the latest news and deep dives into the gaming world.
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