Canadian waste-tire processing plant proposed

GOTEBORG, Sweden — Canadian energy-services provider ArticCan Energy Services Inc. is proposing setting up a scrap-tire processing plant in Canada designed to process 30,000 metric tons of waste tires a year.

To effect the plan, ArticCan Energy signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Scandinavian Enviro Systems A.B., a Goteborg-based engineering concern founded in 2001 to develop pyrolysis technology for recovering carbon and hydrocarbon compounds from waste tires.

The parties did not disclose a proposed site, timetable for completing the plant nor the investment.

The agreement with Enviro is "a significant milestone in our strategic vision of finding a sustainable solution that allows recovery of valuable materials from end of life tires," Anastassia Manuilova, ArticCan's vice president, energy and environment, said in a statement provided by Scandinavian Enviro.

Regina, Saskatchewan-based ArticCan describes itself as an engineering consulting services company active in the petroleum, chemical, electrical, power, mechanical, structural, process, electronics and environmental engineering sectors.

Scandinavian Enviro operates one pyrolysis plant, in Åsensbruk, Sweden, through a subsidiary company, Tyre Recycling in Sweden A.B., and has disclosed one other MoU, in China with Vanlead Group Co. Ltd.

The company claims its recycling process breaks down tires into carbon black (30 percent by weight), steel (15 percent), gas (10 percent) and oil (45 percent, comprising both ordinary fuel oil and other valuable oil components).

Separately, Scandinavian Enviro disclosed that its chairman, Stig-Arne Blom, has been charged with unauthorized disclosure of inside information and is in custody awaiting trial, which is scheduled for the week of March 12.