Viva Energy has successfully processed 10 tonnes of tyre pyrolysis oil at its Geelong Refinery, marking a key development in Australia’s circular economy and low-carbon fuel production ambitions.
The oil, imported from Poland with Australian Government approval, was processed alongside crude oil to produce a full range of fuels and products. This follows similar processing of plastic-derived pyrolysis oil in May, confirming the refinery’s ability to co-process oils from waste materials at scale.
Lachlan Pfeiffer, Chief Strategy Officer at Viva Energy, said the refinery’s ability to process pyrolysis oil from both tyres and waste plastic demonstrates the versatility of the facility and their commitment to supporting a lower-carbon future.
“Viva Energy is proud to play a role in the production of lower-carbon fuels and products and reduce the number of tyres that go into landfill. The project can only proceed if the regulatory landscape encourages businesses to progress these important initiatives.”
Tyre pyrolysis oil is recognised in the European Union as a low-carbon alternative to traditional fuels, but Australia does not yet provide emissions reduction credits for co-processed fuels, limiting incentives for adoption.
Lina Goodman, CEO of Tyre Stewardship Australia, said tyre pyrolysis oil is increasingly recognised internationally, particularly in the EU, as a low-carbon alternative.
“We welcome initiatives that showcase the viability of these solutions at scale that extract value from end-of-life tyres and support the transition to a more sustainable, low-emissions future for Australia.”
The milestone supports plans to establish a tyre-recycling facility in Melbourne. Earlier this year, Viva Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with Klean Industries, a Canadian recycling firm, to assess a facility capable of processing up to 80,000 tonnes of tyres annually. The proposed plant would recover steel, recovered carbon black (rCB), and biogenic pyrolysis oil intended for use at Geelong Refinery.
Jesse Klinkhamer, CEO of Klean Industries, said it is a crucial step forward in fulfilling Klean Industries’ vision of establishing a fully integrated resource recovery and low-carbon fuel production facility in Melbourne.
“This achievement not only confirms the quality and compatibility of our recovered oils with existing refining infrastructure but also demonstrates the commercial viability of converting end-of-life tyres into high-value, low-carbon fuels and chemicals.”
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