Move to restrict exports of Used Motor Oil to support local recyclers

MUSCAT SEPT 4

Buoyed by the growth of a nascent entrepreneurial industry around Used Cooking Oil (UCO) collection and recycling, be’ah – the state-owned entity overseeing the management of the solid waste sector – says it is now focused on replicating some of this success in the recycling of Used Motor Oil (UMO) as well.

For want of local recyclers, almost all of Used Motor Oil and waste lubricants – collected from numerous automotive garages, equipment workshops, industrial yards and other depots distributed around the Sultanate of Oman – are exported out of the country. This outflow of commercially valuable and recyclable waste deprives the country of value-add processing avenues with associated job creation opportunities as well, according to be’ah.

As part of its UMO collection and treatment plans, be’ah says it aims to support the establishment of a collection infrastructure to “prevent illegal dumping, minimise export and optimise the local UMO recycling industry” within the country.

“be’ah is working with regulators and ROP Customs to control UMO exports and retain its value locally. They do this by diverting the collected quantities to support local UMO recycling plants and to develop a database of locally equipped collectors to collect UMO from various generation sources and transfer the quantities to recycling facilities,” be’ah – part of Oman Investment Authority (OIA) – stated.

The overall objective of the initiative, be’ah noted, is to elevate the “production value of UMO with local offtakers whose processes are environmentally sustainable”.

Oman’s municipal and environmental authorities prohibit the disposal of UMO and waste lubricants in drains, open areas or other unauthorized sites. Any quantities must be collected in drums and stored for safe disposal.

There is anecdotal evidence that sizable quantities of UMO and other waste lubricants are generated annually from around the country. Used oils typically include engine lubrication oil, hydraulic fluids, and gear oils used in cars, bikes, trucks, heavy machinery and industrial equipment.

In line with its circular economy ambitions, be’ah says it enabled two local Omani companies to set up recycling operations around Used Cooking Oil (UCO) to produce biofuel.

“In 2021, both Wakud International and Oman Blending Services were granted support letters from be’ah post pre-qualification assessment, and were provided with the relevant project permits from other stakeholders to commence UCO treatment operations,” it added in this regard.