Turkey’s only used oil re-refinery located in Osmaneli, Bilecik Province, celebrated its first year of operation. Owned and operated by TAYRAŞ, the re-refinery is capable of processing 60,000 metric tonnes per year of used oil into API Group II+ base oil. The re-refinery has been declared by Turkey’s Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology as a strategic investment.

Turkey generates approximately 300,000 tons of used oil annually. However, less than 10% of the used oil generated is collected. Last year, Turkey’s Ministry for Environment and Urban Planning mandated blending re-refined base oils with virgin base oils in finished lubricants from 2022, starting with 8% blend, rising to 12% in 2023 and 15% in 2024. 

Headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey, TAYRAŞ was founded in 2011 to collect and re-refine used oil. Construction of the re-refinery started in 2018 and was completed in 2021. Sequoia designed, specified and supplied all process equipment for the used lubricating oil processing plant based on its vacuum distillation and hydrogeneration technologies. Sequoia Global Inc. (USA) and its affiliate Sequoia Energy & Environment Pvt. Ltd of Pune, India, have been providing design, engineering and equipment for recycling of wastes,  including spent lubricating oils, antifreeze, plastics, fuels and certain wastewaters, since 2006. 

“It is a great opportunity and challenge to bring a new re-refinery alive. Whilst supply and sales has been organized locally, the international technology provided by Sequoia is the heart of the undertaking. Sequoia´s team did a great job by providing the core components on time in high quality. More important is the outstanding ongoing advice and cooperation with our young local employees. I thank Rohit and his staff and our dedicated team led by Ertuğrul Kılıç for their enthusiasm and successful diligent work,” said Mehmet Afşin, chairman of TAYRAŞ’s Board.

“This plant represents an important achievement for our dedicated team and I am grateful to Mehmet Afşin and his colleagues for this wonderful opportunity. I hope we have met their expectations. I also want to thank all of Sequoia employees who worked tirelessly through Covid period to meet our obligations to TAYRAŞ,” said Rohit Joshi, managing director, Sequoia companies.

Sequoia has granted exclusive access to its technologies to TAYRAŞ for Turkey and neighboring countries.