Viva Energy eyes tyre oil recycling at Geelong Refinery

Viva Energy has taken a bold step towards a circular economy by signing a memorandum of understanding with Canadian advanced recycling firm Klean Industries. The partnership aims to explore the development of a tyre-recycling facility capable of processing up to 80,000 tonnes of used tyres annually at the Geelong Refinery in Australia.

The Geelong Refinery is located in Geelong, Victoria, about 75 kilometres southwest of Melbourne. The refinery is owned and operated by Viva Energy and is one of only two operational oil refineries in Australia. It plays a vital role in supplying fuel to Victoria and other parts of southeastern Australia, producing petrol, diesel, jet fuel, LPG, and bitumen.

The proposed facility would extract valuable materials such as recovered carbon black, recyclable steel, and biogenic pyrolysis oil—used in the production of low-carbon fuels.

“This partnership with Klean Industries is an important development as we explore new pathways to a more sustainable future for our refinery,” 

“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,” said Lachlan Pfeiffer, Viva Energy’s chief strategy officer. “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.”

Klean Industries specialises in converting waste into energy and sustainable materials through pyrolysis and other advanced thermal technologies. CEO Jesse Klinkhamer added, “Together, we are poised to transform used tyres into sustainable products that fulfill the growing demand for sustainable low-carbon fuels and raw materials. 

A shipment of tyre pyrolysis oil produced by Klean has already been imported to Geelong as part of a trial to validate large-scale processing. If successful, the project will enhance the refinery’s alternative feedstock capabilities, supporting job creation and environmental sustainability.

The initiative follows several recent announcements by Viva Energy to co-process materials such as soft plastics, tallow, and used cooking oil, reinforcing the Geelong Refinery’s emerging role in Australia’s circular economy.