A GROUNDBREAKING project to recycle waste oil from ships into usable fuel is underway in Vanuatu, in a real step towards cleaner energy and safer waste management.
The pilot facility, located at Melek Tree on Efate, is operated by Oceans Environmental Solutions, a company led by Andrew Bohn.
The main component is a pyrolysis plant, which works much like distillation. Waste oil is heated in a vacuum, producing vapours that are cooled and condensed. This process breaks down hydrocarbons, transforming toxic waste into reusable fuel.
“The problem is there’s no way to recycle oil in Vanuatu. Australia has similar systems to recycle oil as the US,” Bohn said.
“The two choices we have here is storage, which we have done. But as we store and store, eventually we have more than enough. The other choice I think some people are doing in Vanuatu is that they dump it (waste oil) into the ground.”
For decades, Vanuatu has struggled with how to dispose of waste oil from ships. With no proper recycling system in place, the options were limited to unsafe storage or dumping oil into the ground—practices that threatened soil, water, and community health. The new facility offers a cleaner alternative, with the potential to reduce reliance on imported fuel and set a model for other Pacific nations.
The Department of Environment is overseeing the project closely. Public consultations are underway, and officials have promised strict monitoring of any smoke, odour, or other environmental impacts. If risks prove too great, the plant could be relocated or shut down.
Despite these safeguards, the initiative is being touted as a bold innovation. By turning waste into energy, Vanuatu is tackling two problems at once: protecting the environment and strengthening energy security. If successful, the project could reshape how the Pacific region deals with hazardous waste, proving that even small island nations can lead in sustainable solutions.
Source: VBTC News
