![\"waste](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Waste-cooking-oil.jpg\")
waste cooking oil<\/p>\n– Advertisement –<\/p>\n
A Don, Dr Esther Babatunde, says waste cooking oil generated by restaurants and households across Nigeria can be converted into high-quality biodiesel capable of powering generators, trucks and industrial equipment.<\/p>\n
Babatunde, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ilorin, disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, in Lagos.<\/p>\n
While speaking on her research findings on renewable energy and waste valorisation, she said that biodiesel obtained from waste cooking oil could reduce energy costs, pollution and fuel imports.<\/p>\n
waste cooking oil<\/p>\n
Waste valorisation is defined as the process of reusing, recycling, composting, or converting waste into useful products, such as chemicals and fuels, by transforming discarded materials into raw materials or energy sources.<\/p>\n
Babatunde, who is also a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, noted that Nigeria\u2019s hospitality sector produced large volumes of waste cooking oil annually.<\/p>\n
She noted that\u00a0much of these waste cooking oils are improperly disposed of, despite its potential as a renewable fuel feedstock.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat many people regard as useless waste is actually a valuable resource.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsed cooking oil can be converted into biodiesel that can power generators, trucks and industrial equipment, while also reducing environmental pollution.<\/p>\n
\u201cNigeria produces over 100,000 tonnes of waste cooking oil every year from hotels, bukas and fast-food outlets, especially in urban centres like Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not sludge; it is a feedstock goldmine for renewable diesel.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt a time when we export crude oil but still depend on imported fuels due to weak refining capacity, biodiesel from waste oil offers a local, sustainable and affordable alternative,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The postdoctoral researcher explained that biodiesel was produced from waste cooking oil through a chemical process known as transesterification, which involves combining the oil with methanol in the presence of a catalyst.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn our laboratory at the University of Ilorin, we replicated industrial-scale experiments using waste oil collected from campus cafeterias.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder optimal conditions of 60 degrees Celsius, a 12:1 methanol-to-oil ratio and just three per cent catalyst loading, we achieved a biodiesel yield of 97.6 per cent that met ASTM standards.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not rocket science. It is chemical engineering adapted to Nigerian realities, using locally sourced materials, including catalysts derived from waste and natural resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnlike biodiesel produced from edible oils such as palm or soybean, waste cooking oil avoids the food-versus-fuel debate and significantly lowers production costs,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
On environmental benefits, Babatunde said biodiesel burns cleaner than petroleum and diesel, and could significantly improve air quality in Nigerian cities.<\/p>\n
According to her, biodiesel reduces particulate matter emissions by about 50 per cent and cuts greenhouse gas emissions by up to 78 per cent over its lifecycle.<\/p>\n
She explained that this could be transformative in cities choked by fumes from generators, diesel buses, etc.<\/p>\n
\u201cRepeated frying raises the acid value of cooking oil, but with proper pre-treatment, this degraded oil actually becomes ideal for biodiesel production.<\/p>\n
\u201cDiverting waste cooking oil from drains and landfills also prevents water pollution and methane emissions, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 on clean and affordable energy,\u201d Babatunde said.<\/p>\n
She disclosed that pilot biodiesel projects are already yielding positive results in parts of the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cA small plant in Ogun State processes about 5,000 litres of waste oil daily.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt now powers local vehicle fleets and has reduced diesel imports in that area by roughly 20 per cent,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
According to her, biodiesel from waste cooking oil could be produced at about 52 cents per litre, nearly half the cost of imported diesel.<\/p>\n
Babatunde said: \u201cThis makes it a lifeline for small-scale farmers, transporters and off-grid communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith cooperatives collecting waste oil from street vendors, especially in places like Kano and Enugu, local fuel production can drive both economic growth and energy security.<\/p>\n
\u201cJobs will emerge across the value chain \u2013 collectors, technicians, processors and marketers \u2013 while communities gain access to affordable, locally produced fuel,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Babatunde, however, identified weak policy implementation, poor waste collection systems and low public awareness as major obstacles.<\/p>\n
\u201cNigeria\u2019s 2007 Biofuel Policy targeted a 10 per cent blending rate by 2015, but inconsistent enforcement and inadequate infrastructure have stalled progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany restaurateurs still see waste cooking oil as worthless and dump it indiscriminately. With the right incentives, such as tax breaks and subsidised small-scale processors, this attitude can change,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
She urged government to integrate waste cooking oil utilisation into the National Energy Master Plan and called on universities to lead training and extension programmes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese challenges are not barriers; they are opportunities. With research support, policy backing and community engagement, biodiesel from waste oil can become a key player in Nigeria\u2019s alternative energy mix,\u201d Babatunde said.<\/p>\n
She concluded that although biodiesel was not a cure-all, it represented a realistic step toward a cleaner and more resilient energy future for Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u201cClimate change, declining global oil demand and rising energy costs demand pragmatic solutions. With a blend of chemistry and community effort, we can turn today\u2019s waste into tomorrow\u2019s fuel,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
By Fabian Ekeruche<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"– Advertisement – A Don, Dr Esther Babatunde, says waste cooking oil generated by restaurants and households across…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21721,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[7429,122,13525],"class_list":{"0":"post-21720","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nigeria","8":"tag-energy-transition","9":"tag-nigeria","10":"tag-waste-cooking-oil"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21720"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21720\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}