Scientists at the Southern Construction Materials Centre have been successful in recycling rubber waste to produce fuel oil through the thermolytic process at the cost of only half the price of crude oil.

The recycle process will also help solve the environmental problem posed by discarded rubber which is difficult to degrade.

Mai of the project on rubber recycling Dr. Ngoc Tam said that around 280kg of oil can be produced from one tonne of rubber refuse.

The scientists said with 500 million VND, they can install recycling equipment capable of producing two tonnes of fuel oil per day. The production cost for one kilogramme of the oil is estimated at 4,000 VND, representing only one-third of diesel oil market prices.

Vietnam has abundant sources of rubber refuse, Tam said, adding that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City current boast 5.3 million motorbikes and 540,000 cars which will discharge a large number of tyres and tubes each year./.