PIETERMARITZBURG PLANT

Branch Manager Stephan Roeloffze

OVERVIEW

The Pietermartizburg plant is primarily involved with the processing of used lubricating oil, the recovery / rehabilitation of high value hydrocarbon products and the supply of distillate heating fuels.

The plant has several processes, including:

• High-temperature stills for the production of high quality distillate fuel oil,
  
• Chemical de-ashing for removing inorganic contaminants from used lubricating oil,
  
• Distillation columns for water removal, flashpoint correction and the recovery of specific hydrocarbon fractions from various feedstocks,
  
• Thin film evaporator for the further treatment of used lubricating oil,
  
• A hydrogenation plant for the saturation of olephins, de-oxidisation, denitrification and desulphurisation of pre-treated used lubricating oil to base oil quality and for the destruction of PCB's in transformer oil,
  
• Various blending and storage facilities.

PRODUCTS

• Light Oil 10 (LO10) - A cost-effective low ash, low sulphur diesel / paraffin replacement furnace fuel,
  
• Light Oil 2 (LO2) - A cost-effective low flashpoint distillate furnace fuel for use in very specific applications where the low flashpoint risk can be properly managed,
  
• LSMFO - A low sulphur, low ash, medium viscosity furnace fuel for use in viscosity-sensitive furnace applications,
  
• Various Base Oils used in lubricating oil.
  

FEEDSTOCKS

The Pietermaritzburg plant's primary feedstocks are:

• Used lubricating oils,
  
• Light and middle distillate oils from various sources,
  
• Naphthas (light paraffinic (C5-C12) hydrocarbon by-products) from the petroleum industry,
  
• Light coal tar distillates.
  

EFFLUENT TREATMENT

The aqueous effluent is processed through a comprehensive water effluent plant, that includes a dissolved air flotation oil separator. All effluent complies with requirements for disposal to the municipal sewer.

QUALITY CONTROL

The Pietermaritburg plant has a well equipped laboratory which is able to carry out most standard oil tests, including viscosity, flash and pour point, ash, matter insoluble in toluene (MIT), colour stability and water content. Gas chromatography and XRF technology are used for feedstock categorisation and base oil quality control.

ENVIRONMENTAL This plant operates a SANS ISO 14001-accredited environmental management system that has been in place since 1999.