Mitsui & Co. launches JV with Kal Tire to recycle mining tires

Posté le 6 juin 2023

Japanese company Mitsui & Co. has created a joint venture with Canadian company Kal Tire, an international leader in mining tire services and supplies.

Kal Tire has already successfully established a thermal conversion recycling facility for end-of-life ultra-class mining tires in Antofagasta, Chile, and which is currently the only one of its kind operating.

Mitsui and Kal Tire will collaborate on the commercialization of the recycling plant. Mitsui and Kal Tire also plan to expand the mining tire recycling business globally and aim to establish operations also in mining regions including North America, South America, Australia, and Africa.


The joint venture’s business will recycle mining tires using thermal conversion technology to recycle scrap tires currently stockpiled at mining sites into carbon black, oil, and steel. The carbon black can be used as a raw material for tires and industrial rubber products, while the oil could be sold for various use such as refining processes, and the steel can be sold to scrap metal foundries.

Through this project, Mitsui aims to contribute to providing solutions to tackle environmental and safety issues in mines, as well as to the realization of a circular economy in the mining and tire industries.

Chilean law firm Bofill Mir advised Mitsui & Co. on the due diligence and the drawing up of the subsequent transaction documents for the creation of the joint venture

“Our team's role included a comprehensive due diligence process covering corporate, mining, labor, tax, environmental and compliance issues; advising on different strategies in structuring the transaction; and reviewing transaction documents,” the law firm said in a statement.

The law firm’s team advising Mitsui & Co. featured mining practice partner Alina Bendersky, tax partner Jorge Valenzuela, and senior associates Alonso Calderón and Francisco Miranda, and associate Juan Manuel Bengoa. From the firm’s corporate law area, senior associate Antonia Ballacey.

The firm’s director of its public law practice, Cristian Franetovic, and associate Javira Cid also participated in the advice provided to Mitsui & Co.