Indigenous engine oil recycling firm seeks legislation to encourage proper disposal

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

Bunorr Integrated Energy Services Limited has called for legislation to curb the indiscriminate disposal of used engine oil and prevent further environmental degradation.

The company noted that making recycling mandatory would not only promote a cleaner environment but also guarantee a steady supply of raw materials for its 60,000-litres-per-day used-oil recycling plant.

Bunorr processes condemned engine oil into base oil for lubricant blending and other industrial uses.

Speaking during a two-day media tour organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Port Harcourt, Bunorr’s Managing Director, Mr. Okeke Ikechukwu, described the past six months as a period of “revival, stabilisation, and significant progress.”

“Our growth and recovery include increased production rates, especially between October and November 2025, when we recorded our highest revenue and gross profit since operations began. Production efficiency improved by more than 50 per cent compared to earlier months,” he said.

He explained that although the company recorded deficits in its early months due to technical disruptions, operations have since rebounded.

“November 2025 delivered a positive surplus, reaffirming the viability and profitability of the plant under stable operating conditions,” Ikechukwu said.

He credited much of the company’s renewed momentum to the support and strategic partnership of the NCDMB.

According to him, the Board’s oversight and backing boosted Bunorr’s credibility with vendors, financial institutions and technical partners.

“One of the most tangible outcomes of NCDMB’s involvement is the growth of local manpower. Today, Bunorr employs 37 Nigerians, 16 core technical, production, maintenance and operations staff, and 21 non-core staff in administration, logistics and support roles,” he added.

Ikechukwu noted that NCDMB’s periodic engagements enhanced the company’s operational standards, strengthened its safety culture and encouraged the adoption of modern process-control technologies, including SCADA and digital monitoring systems.

He also commended the visibility generated by NCDMB’s media presence, saying it underscores the Board’s commitment to promoting indigenous success stories in Nigeria’s circular energy and industrial recycling ecosystem.

Outlining the company’s 2026 roadmap, Ikechukwu said Bunorr plans to build on recent gains by moving into full commercial production, expanding raw-material aggregation networks nationwide, improving base-oil grades through purification upgrades, increasing automation, boosting working capital and expanding plant capacity in phases.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe—represented by the Head of Government Relations, Mr. Teddy Bai reiterated the Board’s commitment to supporting competence and quality in the Nigerian content development drive.

“As part of our support to indigenous companies, the NCDMB has invested $3.6 million in equity and provided an additional $10 million as a concessional loan under the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund,” he said.

Although Bunorr’s plant has a full capacity of 60,000 litres per day, it currently produces 36,000 litres daily due to limited availability of used engine oil.