Tunisian Startup Converts Olive Waste Into Clean Energy

A Tunisian start-up converts olive waste into renewable energy.

In a northern Tunisian olive orchard, Yassine Khelifi’s modest workshop buzzes with activity as a substantial machine converts olive residues into a crucial energy resource in a nation largely dependent on imported fuels.

On March 3, 2025, a person organizes barrels of olive pomace at the premises of startup Bioheat located in the town of Sanhaja close to Tunis.

(Copyright: FETHI BELAID / AFP)

Grasping a clump of compressed olive waste — a dense mush remaining after oil production — Khelifi remarked: “Here’s what we require now. How do we transform this valueless material into riches?”

For many years, families living in the countryside of Tunisia have utilized olive residue for cooking and heating purposes, or fed it to their livestock.

According to estimates from the International Olive Council, Tunisia is projected to rank as the globe’s third-biggest producer of olive oil during the period of 2024-2025, anticipating a production volume of around 340,000 tons.

The amount of waste produced during oil extraction is enormous.

Khelifi, an engineering professional from a farming background, established Bioheat in 2022 to address this challenge. Recalling his observations, he remembered seeing laborers at olive processing plants utilizing leftover olive pulp for energy purposes.

“I often pondered over why this material kept burning for such an extended period without extinguishing,” he stated. “It then led me to ask: ‘What if we could convert it into energy?’”

In addition to generating profits, Khelifi aims for his startup to assist in "decreasing the consumption of firewood as the nation grapples with deforestation and climate change."

In his facility, workers move truckloads of olive residue, piling it up before loading it into the machinery for processing.

The substance is subsequently compressed into cylindrical briquettes and allowed to dry for one month through exposure to sunlight and within greenhouses prior to being packaged and sold.

- The essence of olives -

In 2018, Khelifi started working on his concept following his journey through Europe as he looked for a device capable of transforming olive paste into durable fuel.

Unable to locate the appropriate technology, he went back to Tunisia and devoted four years to testing different engines and machinery components.

By 2021, he had created a device that generated briquettes containing only an eight percent level of moisture.

He mentioned that this quantity notably cuts down on carbon emissions when contrasted with firewood, as firewood needs several months for drying and frequently holds over twice the level of moisture.

Bioheat discovered a niche in Tunisia for eateries, guesthouses, and educational institutions located in less developed areas, particularly during winters when temperatures occasionally fall below freezing.

But the majority of its production -- about 60 percent -- is set for exports to France and Canada, Khelifi said.

The firm currently has 10 employees and aims to produce 600 tons of briquettes by 2025, he mentioned additionally.

Selim Sahli, aged 40, who operates a guesthouse, mentioned that he switched from using conventional firewood to Khelifi's briquettes for both heating and cooking purposes.

"It's an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative," he said. "It's clean, easy to use, and has reduced my heating costs by a third."

Mohamed Harrar, who owns a pizzeria on the edge of Tunis, commended the briquettes for cutting down on smoke emissions, stating that these had formerly bothered his neighbors.

"Besides, this waste carries the soul of Tunisian olives and gives the pizza a special flavour," he added.

-' Safeguard the natural world'-

Considering Tunisia's substantial output of olive oil, the resulting waste materials present both a hurdle and a potential for development.

Noureddine Nasr, an expert in agriculture and rural development, mentioned that approximately 600,000 tons of olive waste are generated each year.

"Utilizing this wasted resource can safeguard the environment, foster job creation, and produce wealth," he stated.

Nasr thinks that utilizing olive waste for alternative purposes might aid in reducing Tunisia's significant reliance on foreign fuel sources.

According to a 2023 World Bank report, the nation imports over 60 percent of its energy requirements, which exacerbates its trade deficit and puts pressure on governmental subsidy programs.

Petrol and natural gas shortages frequently occur during winter months, especially in Tunisia’s northwestern regions, as families find it difficult to maintain warmth.

Redirecting agricultural waste into alternative energy sources could ease this burden.

Still, for business founders such as Khelifi, starting a venture in Tunisia comes with numerous obstacles.

The main obstacle was financing," he stated, expressing frustration over expensive bank loans. "It seemed akin to traveling down a street filled with potholes.

However, his current objective is "to make a significant impact as a crucial figure in Tunisia’s shift towards clean energy," he mentioned additionally. "Ideally, this will extend to the globe as well."