production and compete with the huge economies of scale that mainstream refining enjoys. Today, most small-scale European virgin base oil refineries have closed, and supply has consolidated into larger efficient, regionalised operations. Those regenerating to high standards also need to do so in larger- scale technologically capable re-refineries requiring significant investment, where capacities now regularly exceed 100,000 tonnes per year.
Apart from the obvious scale efficiencies, re-refineries cannot ‘stop/start’ and they need a continuous supply of feedstock. A further efficiency requirement concerns re-refinery operating practices, because customers purchasing re-refined base oils are looking for a supply that is not only both correct and consistent but at the level of quality needed. More importantly today customers demand a bona fide carbon reducing option which they can use in their own Net Zero plans.
Such demands are less important for waste oils destined for fuel manufacture, however, as mentioned above, this route does not sit at the top of the waste hierarchy.
Therefore, waste oil collectors supplying a regeneration activity have to be intrinsically efficient. Through smart logistics modelling they ensure vehicle collections are optimised for both collection quantities and geographical location. Generally speaking, most collections involve individual volumes of between 1,000 – 3,000 litres with occasional larger uplifts where say a large industrial system is undergoing a change. Service levels are critical, especially if a waste oil tank is full then it needs a rapid response while
a customer with many sites needs a national service provider operating with different vehicle types who can handle drummed and small container packs.
Feedstock supply, feedstock quality and efficient logistics supply remain critical elements of the value chain.
The key messages are that waste oil producers should support the regeneration option over that of fuel and choose an efficient collector who can demonstrate the fate of their waste oils and critically, the impact it made in respect of carbon accounting and should ask for a compliance pack.
This feature was produced by Slicker Recycling Limited and its joint venture partner, Avista Green.
www.slickerrecycling.com
avistagreen.dk
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.176 AUGUST 2023
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