In brief
AMAVI, a Beninese firm, is turning discarded cooking oil into soap and biofuel in Ouedo‑Kpossidja, 40 km north of Cotonou. Since 2023 the company has processed over 150,000 liters of oil. It plans to grow biodiesel production to more than three tonnes per day by 2030 and has partnered with China’s Henan Hengyong for equipment and training.
On Nov. 1, 2026, Xinhua reported that the Beninese company AMAVI is converting discarded cooking oil into soap and biofuel in the locality of Ouedo‑Kpossidja, about 40 kilometers north of Cotonou.
Operations and Impact
AMAVI collects used cooking oil from more than one hundred hotel and restaurant operators. The oil undergoes filtration and settling to remove water and solids before being transformed into soap or converted into biodiesel for power generators and agricultural machinery. The founder, Carmel Djiha, said that the initiative helps reduce environmental pollution and protects public health. He added that improper disposal can contaminate soil, disrupt aquatic ecosystems, and pose long‑term health risks such as cancer and respiratory problems.
"Consuming used cooking oil is harmful to human health and can cause cancer and respiratory problems in the long term," said Djiha.
Carmel Djiha, founder of AMAVI, explained the company’s multistep processing and the benefits of turning waste into useful products.
Future Plans and Partnerships
Since launching operations in 2023, AMAVI has recycled over 150,000 liters of oil. The company signed a partnership agreement with China’s Henan Hengyong, which supplies oil‑processing equipment and provides technical training for AMAVI employees. Djiha said AMAVI will industrialize its biodiesel production by 2030, targeting a daily output of more than three tonnes.
Benin has had legislation regulating used oil management since 2003, prohibiting disposal or discharge into soil, water, or sewage and banning burning in unauthorized facilities.
