OREANDA-NEWS. Veolia Environnement and Total today inaugurated the Osilub plant at the Gonfreville l’Orcher site in Normandy, France. Completed after 20 months of construction work, the new plant expands engine oil treatment capacity in France and, more broadly, northwestern Europe, to regenerate used oil as high end engine oils.

"Developing innovative industrial solutions to convert waste into new resources is a cornerstone of the new Veolia that we are building. Our success in this area will be shared with our customers and partners, who are working with us to safeguard the environment. The virtuous cycle model developed in synergy with Total to regenerate used engine oil at the Osilub plant offers a compelling example of a forward-looking industry initiative that supports both economic growth and sustainable development," commented Antoine Frerot, Chief Executive Officer of Veolia Environnement. "The intentional choice of Le Havre reflects our deep industrial roots in this region, where we have invested nearly €90 million over the past five years."

"Total is a major player active across the whole lubricant life cycle. Osilub’s innovative process will optimally regenerate used oil to offer customers superior quality products as part of a virtuous ‘circular economy.’ Energy efficiency is a core priority at Total, because it offers a response to today’s environmental challenges and allows us to conserve valuable fossil fuel resources," said Philippe Boisseau, President of Marketing & Services and New Energies at Total. "Osilub is also a new chapter for Total in Normandy. We have a number of facilities in the region and are investing substantially there, especially in the integrated Normandy platform, comprising a refinery and a benchmark petrochemical plant."

Several years of research underpin the wiped-film vacuum distillation process deployed by Osilub, which preserves the oil molecules and ensures high yields when recycling fine chemical products. The base stock produced by Osilub will be treated in dedicated facilities, including the Normandy refinery, and reused in high-end engine oils that meet the latest standards.

This industrial project supports sustainable development, in line with the European Union’s emphasis on recycling. It also consolidates the presence in the Normandy region of Total and Veolia Environnement, two key business and industry players locally.