In brief
Since launching in 2023, AMAVI has diverted more than 150,000 litres of used cooking oil from the environment, turning it into soap and biodiesel. The venture, operating 40 km north of Cotonou, works with over 100 restaurants and partners with China’s Henan Hengyong for equipment and training. By 2030, AMAVI aims to produce over three tonnes of biodiesel per day, strengthening Benin’s public‑health and green‑energy efforts.
In a north‑Cotonou locality called Ouédo‑Kpossidja, Benin’s AMAVI company is re‑imagining waste by converting discarded cooking oil into soap and biofuel, a project that has processed over 150,000 litres since its 2023 launch and could yield more than three tonnes of biodiesel per day by 2030.
Founder Carmel Djiha told Xinhua that improperly discarded oil is an environmental hazard, contaminating soil and water and posing long‑term health risks such as cancer and respiratory disease. The company now collects used oil from more than 100 restaurants, filtering and settling the liquid before producing soap or converting it into biodiesel for generators and agricultural machinery.
"Consuming used cooking oil is harmful to human health and can cause cancer and respiratory problems in the long term," Djiha said.
Benin’s 2003 regulations prohibit discarding used oil in ways that could pollute the environment, and AMAVI’s work aligns with those legal requirements by providing a productive outlet for the waste stream.
Industry Collaboration and Future Plans
AMAVI’s approach has attracted international interest; the company signed a partnership agreement with China’s Henan Hengyong. The Chinese firm supplies specialised equipment and offers technical training to AMAVI employees, positioning the venture within a global network of renewable‑energy development.
"The partnership will help us scale up biofuel production for power generators and agricultural engines, and support environmental protection and public health," Djiha said.
Looking ahead, AMAVI intends to industrialise biodiesel production by 2030, targeting a daily output of more than three tonnes and broadening its contribution to Benin’s greenhouse‑gas reduction goals.
Beyond the local community, AMAVI’s transformation of discarded cooking oil demonstrates a scalable model for other nations grappling with food‑processing waste, and underscores the potential of renewable‑energy ventures to intersect public health, environmental stewardship, and economic development.
The company’s achievements reflect a growing trend of turning municipal waste into valuable resources, illustrating how small‑scale industrial efforts can create significant environmental and societal benefits.
