The UAE plant is converting used cooking oil into biofuel, aiming to enhance sustainable transportation in one of the world’s leading oil-producing nations. Dubai-based Lootah Biofuels is optimistic that its biodiesel production will contribute to this endeavor. They are advocating for sustainable transportation practices in the UAE, advocating for a mandatory blend similar to global standards.
Amidst the global push for low-carbon fuel, vegetable oil and waste cooking oil-derived fuels are expected to play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. Lootah Biofuel reports collecting 500,000 liters of used cooking oil monthly, converting it into biodiesel and other products. In 2023 alone, the company produced over 770 tons of biofuel.
CEO Yousif Bin Saeed Al Lootah explains the process, emphasizing its simplicity. The biodiesel mixture involves oil, methanol, and potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, adjusted based on the oil’s free fatty acid percentage.
The UAE aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. However, an independent research group highlighted in 2023 that the country was falling short of its climate goals, especially if it continued expanding oil and gas production. Consequently, the UAE government updated its targets, including a 30% share of clean energy in the total energy mix by 2030.
Al Lootah underscores the urgency of environmental preservation, emphasizing the need for multiple sustainable approaches, not limited to transportation.
While Lootah Biofuels is not the pioneer in converting cooking oil into vehicle fuel, similar initiatives are emerging globally. In Australia’s remote outback, drivers are using cooking fat to power electric vehicles. Additionally, in California, plans are underway to convert used cooking oil, soybean oil, and beef fat into renewable diesel.
Professor Paul Hellier from the University College London views biodiesel from waste cooking oil as a valuable tool in reducing carbon emissions, particularly in sectors where electric vehicles adoption may take longer, such as heavy goods vehicles and aviation. He advocates for the development of a broader range of renewable fuels to diversify options and address emissions effectively.
