THE CIRCLE OF WLOs IN GREECE

Annually, the global market of lubricating oils approaches 40 million tons. In Europe, consumption is about 19% of the total volume, while in Greece, it is estimated that every year about 70,000 tons of lubricating oils are marketed, which require about 45,000 - 50,000 tons of base oils to be produced.

In Greece, 74% of the produced waste oil (WLO), approximately 27,000 tons, is collected, with all of it (100%) subject to re-refining treatment. In this process, approximately 20,000 tons of regenerated base oils are produced and put back on the market, replacing a corresponding amount of virgin base oils.

In this way, a 22% saving of mineral resources and a 12.6% reduction of greenhouse gases is achieved. The process described above is schematically presented.