As many as 600,000lt of cooking oil are wasted every year in Oman causing ecological disruptions and environmental pollution. This waste will soon be utilised to produce bio-diesel fuel compatible with vehicle use. 

Erigo Bio-fuel, a Qatar-based pioneer in producing bio-diesel from used cooking oil has tied up Neutral Fuels Holdings Ltd Dubai to begin a bio-diesel production facility in the country from September.  

Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (be’ah), which is responsible for all waste management throughout Oman, has endorsed Erigo group and Neutral Fuels for the project. 

Asim Khamis Salman al Sabri, owner of Premium Global Group – local representative of the project – set up with support of be’ah, said, “It is estimated that Oman wastes almost 600,000lt of used cooking oil in a year causing pollution and other environmental issues along with financial losses for companies and small businesses.”  

He added that the plant will initially produce almost 800,000 gallons of bio-diesel per year, utilising locally collected used cooking oil as feedstock. 

The bio-diesel plant is set to begin operations in September – under the theme Waste To Wealth – and is in its final stage of construction in Barka Industrial Area.  

Mohammed Ashraf, Oman country manager of Erigo Bio-fuel, said, “This initiative to convert waste cooking oil to useful bio-diesel is needed to safeguard our environment and find another source of energy.”  

He added that many European countries, including Netherlands, have agreed to import bio-diesel from Oman.  
“Oman’s export of bio-diesel can assure around 30 to 40 per cent price advantage over traditional diesel oil,” added Noushad Rahuman, managing director of Premium Global Group. 

Erigo runs bio-fuel operations in several countries around the world, including India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Qatar and Tunisia.