Klean establishes Australian subsidiary to advance tire recycling plants

Vancouver, British Columbia – Canadian pyrolysis company Klean Industries has stepped up expansion efforts with the establishment of its 16th global subsidiary in Australia.

Klean Industries (Oceania) Pty Ltd. (KIOPL), based in Brisbane, Queensland, is a master licence holding company and will enable the development of several projects currently underway in the Oceania region, said a company statement 30 Sept.

Klean is a pyrolysis and gasification equipment manufacturer.

The Vancouver-based company designs and builds projects for converting hydrocarbon-based waste such as end-of-life tires (ELT), waste plastics and municipal solid waste into domestic energy and recovered resources.

In Australia, KIOPL will launch its activities with advancing the rollout of Klean’s tire recycling technology, starting with two “significant” ELT pyrolysis projects in Melbourne and Sydney.

Additionally, the company will pursue projects in the region for hydrogen production plants, plastic recycling and municipal solid waste recycling.

“As the world continues to struggle with the collapse of the global supply chains due to pandemic lockdowns, the need for insulated domestic supply chains has never been greater,” Jesse Klinkhamer, CEO of Klean Industries.

“After nearly 20 years of operations and consideration of a number of projects in Australasia; Klean believes now is the time for advancement in this region,” he added.

According to Klinkhamer, the current waste and energy crisis in Australia prompted the decision to expand in the region.

Australia’s offshoring a majority of its manufacturing capabilities, the CEO noted, has made the country dependent on overseas markets and pricing for many of its goods and products.

In addition, said Klinkhamer, the country’s significant reduction of coal use and the offshoring of domestic energy market have further burdened Australia’s energy environment.

“It is estimated that Australia now has approximately three weeks of stored fuels supplies and any disruption to that supply would be catastrophic to the Australian economy,” he added.

As a result, Klean said it can see an opportunity to invest in recovered resources and clean energy from waste and renewables.

“The current end-of-life tire issue in Australia is a disaster and a classic example of poor resource management,” Klean added.