By Abdullahi Lukman
A chemical engineering expert has said that waste cooking oil generated by households and restaurants across Nigeria can be converted into high-quality biodiesel capable of powering generators, trucks and industrial equipment.
Dr Esther Babatunde, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Ilorin, made the disclosure in an interview on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, while speaking on her research into renewable energy and waste valorisation.
She explained that biodiesel produced from used cooking oil could help reduce energy costs, cut pollution and lower Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuels.
According to her, the country generates more than 100,000 tonnes of waste cooking oil annually, particularly from hotels, roadside food outlets and fast-food restaurants in major cities.
Babatunde, who is also a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Johannesburg, said much of the waste oil is improperly disposed of despite its value as a renewable fuel feedstock.
She noted that biodiesel from waste cooking oil avoids the food-versus-fuel debate and is cheaper to produce than biodiesel derived from edible oils.
She said laboratory experiments at the University of Ilorin showed that waste cooking oil could yield up to 97.6 per cent biodiesel under optimal conditions, meeting international quality standards.
The process, she explained, involves transesterification using methanol and a catalyst derived from locally available materials.
On environmental benefits, Babatunde said biodiesel burns cleaner than petroleum diesel, reducing particulate emissions by about 50 per cent and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 78 per cent over its lifecycle.
She added that diverting waste oil from drains and landfills would also reduce water pollution and methane emissions.
She disclosed that pilot projects are already operating in parts of the country, including a small plant in Ogun State that processes about 5,000 litres of waste oil daily and has reportedly reduced diesel imports in its area by about 20 per cent.
According to Babatunde, biodiesel from waste cooking oil can be produced at roughly 52 cents per litre, making it a viable option for farmers, transport operators and off-grid communities.
She said wider adoption could create jobs across the value chain, from collection to processing and distribution.
However, she identified weak policy implementation, poor waste collection systems and low public awareness as major challenges.
She urged the government to strengthen enforcement of existing biofuel policies, integrate waste oil utilisation into national energy planning and support small-scale processors.
Babatunde added that with proper policy support, research investment and community participation, biodiesel from waste cooking oil could become an important component of Nigeria’s transition to cleaner and more resilient energy systems.
Source: environews
