Viva Energy has taken the first step towards the development of a tyre-recycling facililty that would have the ability to process up to 80,000 tonnes of used tyres per year – diverting them from landfill and contributing to the manufacture of lower-carbon fuels.
The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Canadian resource recovery and advanced recycling business Klean Industries to collaborate on a pre-feasibility study for the establishment of a tyre-recycling facility to recover sustainable resources.
The tyre-recycling facility will extract three key products from tyres:
• Recovered carbon black (rCB) – used in the manufacture of new tyres, rubber products, and plastics;
• Steel – for metal recycling; and
• Biogenic pyrolysis oil – which will be processed through Geelong Refinery to produce low-carbon intensity fuels.
Klean Industries is a global leader in using advanced technologies to convert waste into valuable resources. It specialises in recovering resources derived from end-of-life tyres, non-recycled plastics and other waste materials.
Viva Energy selected Klean Industries as a partner due to its proven expertise and innovative recycling technologies, which align with Viva Energy’s commitment to sustainability and the establishment of a circular economy.
Viva Energy Chief Strategy Officer Lachlan Pfeiffer said this project marks a critical step in a new role the Geelong Refinery could play in the future.
“This partnership with Klean Industries is an important development for Viva Energy as we continue to explore new pathways to a more sustainable future for our refinery,” he said.
“By transforming end-of-life tyres into valuable resources, we are not only reducing waste but also pioneering new paths for low- carbon fuel production. This project demonstrates our determination to develop a circular economy and deliver environmental and economic benefits for the community.”
Jesse Klinkhamer, CEO of Klean Industries, said the company is excited to join in a strategic partnership with Viva Energy to effectively address the end-of-life “tyre crisis” in Australia.
“Together, we are poised to transform used tyres into sustainable products that fulfill the growing demand for sustainable low-carbon fuels and raw materials. Together, we are making a difference and leading the way towards a more sustainable future,” Klinkhamer said.
Viva Energy is importing to the Geelong Refinery a shipment of tyre pyrolysis oil produced using Klean’s innovative technology.
The company said this is an important step in proving the processing of tyre pyrolysis oil at scale in the refinery.
If this project proceeds, it will expand the suite of alternative feedstocks utilised at the refinery through co-processing, cementing the facility’s role in Australia’s circular economy and reducing the amount of waste going to landfill, said Viva Energy.
Over the last two months, Viva Energy has announced several innovative projects to utilise alternative feedstocks at the refinery made from soft plastics, tallow, and used cooking oil.