On 16 July 2018, IPT Energy Center (IPTEC) and the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lebanon signed an MOU to install a pilot plant for the production of biodiesel from Waste Cooking Oil (WCO), at USEK campus in Kaslik, in the presence of USEK President Father Professor Georges Hobeika, IPTEC President Dr. Toni Issa, and the Energy and Environment Programme Manager at UNDP Ms. Jihan Seoud.
In his speech, Dr. Issa stated that this project is aligned with the strategy of IPT and IPTEC, IPT’s specialized research center in the field of energy, oil and gas. He shed light on the achievements realized by IPTEC under the "National Campaign for Air Pollution Reduction in Lebanon through Efficient Energy Use in Land Transportation" launched by the center in 2012 in collaboration with International organizations and several partners in the public and private sectors, which included a number of programs and activities to raise awareness on air pollution reduction and efficient energy use in land transportation. He also announced that this partnership with USEK on the production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil is an integral part of the National Campaign that IPTEC is still leading. Dr. Issa wished for this project to become a role model in Lebanon, and to deliver tangible results through the effective use of biodiesel as a new source of energy in USEK generators and in selected IPT stations as a first step. He also promised to ensure its sustainability and development while acknowledging the important role of the UNDP in supporting it and providing it with the best prospects for success.
In his intervention, Father Hobeika congratulated Dr. Issa on IPT’s outstanding activities not only in the sales and promotion of petroleum products but also in preserving the environment and energy sources. He stated that USEK was ranked the first green university in Lebanon and among the top ten universities in the Middle East, which reveals USEK’s commitment to energy conservation and environmental sustainability. USEK also received the GAIA International Award for its diligent work in the field of environmental conservation and sustainable development, especially in terms of waste sorting, the use of solar energy to generate clean energy, and the use of electric vehicles to reduce pollution. He then confirmed the importance of transforming the used cooking oil into a clean energy (biodiesel) especially in light of the growing waste crisis in Lebanon, and wished for this step to be the base for a promising collaboration between the university and the private sector. He concluded on the benefits of this partnership in educating the youth on the preservation of the environment and planet Earth for the sake of future generations.
Why Biodiesel?
Biodiesel produced from WCO has several benefits over petroleum diesel:
It is Renewable, Biodegradable, Clean and non-toxic, Safe, Efficient, and Affordable. Download brochure to know more.
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