In Russia, base oils of this type are designated as I-12, I-12A and I-20. The designations indicate simple Group I base oils with no additives, which are used in older machine and industrial equipment mechanisms that don’t require oils with specific anti-oxidation and anti-corrosion properties. They are mainly used as industrial oils in spindle bearings or in high-speed, low-pressure liners and spindles in machine-tool equipment, as well as in automotive and railway applications. An official with the company operating the plant – Amurekoresurs OOO – said its main customers could be motor transport and railway companies in Amur.

The rerefinery is in the industrial zone of Belogorsk, a town near Russia’s border with China. The project is supported by the Corporation for Development of Russia’s Far East and other investors.

Amurekoresurs also collects and transports waste oils processed at the site. Besides base oil, the recycler claims technology to produce synthetic fuels, technical hydrogen and bitumen used for road construction and roofing.

According to some estimates, Russia generates over 1 million tons of waste oils annually, but rerefines just a small fraction of that amount. The country’s largest rerefinery is operated by Rosa-1 in the city of Ryazan and can produce up to 24,000 t/y of Group I base stocks. All other facilities are much smaller.