In brief
AMAVI, a Benin company based 40 km north of Cotonou, collects used cooking oil from over 100 hotels and restaurants, processing more than 150,000 litres since 2023 into soap and biofuel. The venture follows existing legislation that prohibits improper oil disposal, and it has formed a partnership with China’s Henan Hengyong for equipment and training. AMAVI aims to industrialise biodiesel by 2030, targeting daily production of more than three tonnes, a move that could lower greenhouse‑gas emissions and improve public health.
In a quiet locality north of Benin’s economic hub, city of Cotonou, a small company has found a way to turn discarded cooking oil into useful products, turning waste into opportunity and health benefits. AMAVI, which began operations in 2023, now collects used cooking oil from more than 100 hotels and restaurants and processes it to make soap and biofuel, a move praised by the founder for its environmental and public‑health impact.
Carmel Djiha, AMAVI’s founder, noted that “Consuming used cooking oil is harmful to human health and can cause cancer and respiratory problems in the long term,” warning that improper disposal can also contaminate soil and disrupt aquatic ecosystems. These concerns echo Benin’s regulatory framework, which has governed the disposal of used oil since 2003 by banning its discharge into soil, surface water, groundwater, or sewage, and by outlawing the burning of used oil in unauthorized facilities.
Once collected, the oil undergoes a series of filtration and settling processes that remove water and solid residues before it is transformed. The clean oil can then be converted into herbaceous soap, or refined into biodiesel suitable for use in power generators and agricultural machinery. AMAVI claims to have recycled over 150,000 litres of used cooking oil in its first two years of operation, a volume that translates into a significant reduction of local pollution and a potential source of renewable energy.
The company's work illustrates a broader trend in West Africa, where solid waste management and energy security increasingly intersect. By turning a residue that previously might have been dumped into roadside drains or indiscriminately burned, AMAVI intervenes in the environmental cycle that would otherwise produce harmful greenhouse gases and public‑health hazards.
Beyond its environmental impact, AMAVI’s partnership with Henan Hengyong of China illustrates an element of foreign‑direct investment and technology transfer. The Chinese firm supplies oil‑processing equipment and provides technical training for AMAVI employees, strengthening the firm’s capacity to scale. This collaboration positions the company to grow its biodiesel output, with the goal announced in 2026 of producing more than three tonnes per day by 2030 and integrating the fuel into Benin’s power and agricultural sectors.
Local restaurants and hotels have also benefited from the arrangement. By participating in AMAVI’s collection program, they reduce their waste disposal costs and contribute to a cleaner environment, while sponsors and investors on the platform can monitor the social impact of the company’s work. As the programme expands, AMAVI aims to incorporate additional stakeholders, including local farmers, who will use the biodiesel to power tractors and other equipment, creating a circular economy that benefits multiple parties.
Environmental regulators in Benin see ventures like AMAVI as vital to achieving national waste‑management goals. The legislation that has prohibited the dumping or burning of used oil for more than two decades has been largely enforced through community inspections and environmental education campaigns, but the growth of private‑sector processing has accelerated the transition from hazardous waste to useful resources. By converting an otherwise problematic by‑product into renewable energy, AMAVI offers a model that can be replicated across the region.
While AMAVI’s progress points to potential improvements in air quality and public health, the company recognizes the economic challenges of scaling up. The use of biodiesel in Benin’s fleet of generators and tractors points to a future in which the country may reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, yet the company notes that the capital required for large‑scale production creates a bottleneck. The partnership with Henan Hengyong is therefore viewed not only as a technology transfer but also as a means of securing the funding and equipment needed to overcome this hurdle.
As of early 2026, AMAVI’s plans to industrialise biodiesel production remain ambitious, targeting a daily output of more than three tonnes by 2030. The company’s technology, coupled with its growing network of food‑service partners and the China China Hengyong support, positions it to make a significant contribution to the country’s public‑health agenda and to its climate‑change mitigation commitments.
