Transpacific, Shell, Mobil in oil recycling in Australia

July 18, 1997--Transpacific Industries, Shell Australia and Mobil Oil Australia have announced the formation of a new Australian national used oil collection, recycling and refining company, Nationwide Oil Pty. Ltd. Transpacific Industries will own 50 % of Nationwide Oil, and Shell and Mobil each will hold a 25 % share of the joint venture.
Nationwide Oil is constructing a used oil re-refining plant for Sydney, Australia, that will have a capacity to process about 24,000 gallons per day (about 91,000 litres per day) of used oil through a process patented by Interline Resources Corp. of the United States. This refinery is scheduled for start up by the end of the year. According to Nationwide Oil, Interline's technology will revolutionise the application of waste oil processing in Australia.
Nationwide Oil was established by combining existing used oil collection/recycling companies into one national organisation with operations initially in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and West Australia. In September 1996, Interline signed an exclusive purchase agreement with Transpacific for all of Australia. Under the terms of the agreement, Transpacific purchased a 24,000-gallon-per-day plant from Interline. To maintain its exclusivity for Australia, Transpacific must order at least one more 24,000-gallon-per-day plant within two years. The purchase agreement also discusses the possibility of construction of a third or more refineries, depending on market conditions.
The Interline used oil refining process provides an environmental solution to used oil disposal problems by removing physical and chemical contaminants from used oil through a solvent extraction system. The process yields a lubricating base oil or industrial fuels. The by-products from the used oil can be used as an asphalt modifier.