As NCDMB Leads Media Tour, Showcases Indigenous Waste-to-Wealth Technology
By Ali Elias
NCDMB Showcases Indigenous Success in Circular Energy
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Tuesday led a national media delegation to Bunorr Integrated Energy Limited, an indigenous company converting used engine oil into high-grade base oil. The visit formed Day One of a two-day media tour organised by the Board to deepen the capacity of its media stakeholders and amplify homegrown industrial achievements in Nigeria’s energy sector.
The tour drew journalists from national news platforms and the NCDMB media team, many of whom admitted they were unaware that Nigeria had a functional industrial-scale recycling plant capable of processing used engine oil into premium-grade base oil. Over 90 percent of the journalists disclosed that they were learning about the company’s operations for the first time.
Bunorr: A Second Chance After Two Years of Shutdown
Bunorr Integrated Energy Limited, located in Omagwa, Rivers State, had been shut down for more than two years during its technical commissioning phase. But the last six months (July–December 2025) have marked a period of revival, stabilization, and accelerated growth, according to its Managing Director, Mr. Modestus Ikechukwu Okeke.
Within that period, the company achieved technical commissioning and continuous test running, partial but stable commercial production, over 50 percent improvement in production efficiency, its highest revenue and gross profit in November 2025, improved plant reliability following major repairs and component upgrades, recruitment and training of new technical staff, and a positive financial surplus for the first time. All processes in the plant are fully automated, supported by digital monitoring and SCADA-based process controls.
Nigeria’s Premier Waste-to-Base Oil Facility
The company recycles used engine oil into high-quality Base Oil, a critical raw material for the manufacture of lubricants, greases, hydraulic fluids, transmission fluids, and other petroleum derivatives. Bunorr currently processes 36,000 litres of waste oil per day.
So high is the quality of its product that, according to the MD, a Lagos-based client refused to believe the base oil was produced from used oil. He insisted it could only have been produced from virgin oil. He doubted it so much that he travelled down to the factory to see for himself.
Bunorr also operates a fully equipped laboratory, is accredited by NNPC, and holds all applicable regulatory permits.
NCDMB’s “Massive” Support: Financing, Visibility, Credibility
Okeke repeatedly credited the company’s turnaround to the massive support of the NCDMB—support that goes far beyond regulation.
According to the company, NCDMB has enabled credibility before vendors, banks, and technical partners; improved governance, compliance, and safety culture; adoption of modern technology, including automation and digital monitoring; expansion of indigenous employment with 37 Nigerians currently on staff; and greater national visibility for recycling and circular economy initiatives.
Battling Raw Material Scarcity: A Call for Legislation
Despite its progress, Bunorr faces a major challenge: shortage of waste engine oil, its primary raw material. Production often pauses after a week or two because the company cannot source enough feedstock to keep the plant running.
To mitigate this, Bunorr buys used oil in truckloads of 33,000 to 45,000 litres at about ₦400 per litre. While the company does not buy in small quantities, it operates a nationwide network of agents who aggregate waste oil from mechanics, transport companies, factories, and service centers.
Okeke appealed to government for a national policy or legislation that criminalises the indiscriminate dumping of used engine oil, which currently pollutes the environment. If people cannot dump it, they will sell it, and we will buy it. That way, we protect the environment, grow an industry, and create jobs.
Power Supply: The Other Major Hurdle
The MD also decried the poor electricity supply in Omagwa, saying it forces the plant to rely heavily on diesel generators, significantly driving up operating costs. He appealed to government and relevant agencies to intervene and improve power supply to the industrial cluster.
Environmental, Economic and Social Impact
Bunorr’s operations contribute to national goals across several dimensions. Environmentally, the company reduces indiscriminate disposal of used engine oil, converts hazardous waste into valuable industrial products, and supports Nigeria’s transition toward sustainability and circular economy models. Economically, it reduces importation of base oil, develops local supply chains and value-addition industries, and contributes to non-oil sector industrial diversification. Socially, it employs 37 Nigerians, with more positions expected as production scales, offers hands-on industrial training for young technicians, and strengthens engagement with its host community.
Roadmap for 2026: Scaling Toward Full Commercial Production
Building on its turnaround momentum, Bunorr has set bold goals for the coming year. The company aims to transition from partial to full commercial production, establish a nationwide raw material aggregation network, upgrade base oil quality through viscosity and purification improvements, introduce more automation and safety systems, expand working capital to sustain higher production cycles, and implement phased capacity expansion of the plant.
Media Tour Continues
The NCDMB media tour continues tomorrow with scheduled visits to PE Energy Limited and MarconiNg EPC Ltd., as the Board continues its drive to deepen reporting capacity and highlight indigenous innovations in Nigeria’s energy sector.
For Bunorr Integrated Energy Limited, the visit marks yet another affirmation that Nigeria’s circular energy future may already be taking shape—quietly, earnestly, and indigenously.