How a Cameroonian stove turns recycled oil into clean fuel
3 min read
In Douala, Cameroon, engineer Eric Tankeu's innovative stove, powered by recycled vehicle oil and solar energy, offers a cleaner, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly cooking solution, improving health and efficiency for local households like that of Suzanne Noubissie.
In Douala, Cameroon, housewife Suzanne Noubissie has been using a new stove that runs on recycled oil, replacing her traditional coal-burning stove. This stove, designed by Cameroonian engineer Eric Tankeu, uses waste vehicle oil and solar energy, offering a cleaner and more efficient way of cooking. Noubissie shared her satisfaction, saying, “I’ve got fuel for less. You can get it at any price. I’m really satisfied, and the cooking is really fast. We women like speed and efficiency in the kitchen.”
The innovative idea for this stove came from Tankeu, who was motivated by an encounter with a mechanic in 2022. The mechanic shared his struggles with disposing of used vehicle oils. After researching the problem, Tankeu discovered that the oil could be repurposed as a cooking fuel. Determined to address this waste issue, Tankeu spent a year developing a safe method to recycle the oil and design a stove that could use it effectively in a kitchen setting.
Tankeu emphasized the broader health and environmental issues that led him to create the stove. He pointed out that many women in Cameroon and across Africa suffer from respiratory problems caused by inhaling harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and dioxide, which are released when burning wood for cooking. This, he said, is a significant public health issue. Additionally, the improper disposal of used oils has been a growing environmental concern, as much of it is discarded improperly, with little being recycled. Tankeu’s stove addresses both problems by offering a safe and eco-friendly way to recycle and use waste oil.
While the exact process of transforming used oil into cooking fuel remains a secret, Tankeu processes approximately five tonnes of oil each month. The stove is sold for 70,000 Fcfa (about 109 USD), making it an affordable option for many households. In terms of cost efficiency, Tankeu explained that 2 liters of recycled oil, costing only 1,500 Fcfa (roughly 2.35 USD), can provide the same cooking time as a 6 kg domestic gas cylinder, which typically costs around 6,500 Fcfa (10 USD). This makes the stove an economically viable alternative to both coal and gas for cooking.
The benefits of recycling used oil go beyond cost savings. Sustainable development expert Guy Merlin Tindjou Ouandie, who holds a Master’s degree in Earth Sciences, highlighted the environmental and economic advantages of oil recycling. He explained that used oils are hazardous waste that poses significant risks to human health and the environment. Recycling such waste, Ouandie noted, prevents it from polluting nature and contributes to the circular economy, which in turn can create jobs and stimulate economic growth. By turning waste oil into a usable resource, the process helps reduce environmental harm and promotes a sustainable approach to resource management.
For housewives like Noubissie, the new stove offers a cleaner, safer way to cook. Compared to her previous coal stove, which emitted harmful smoke, the recycled oil stove produces far less smoke, improving indoor air quality and providing a healthier cooking environment. Noubissie and many others in her community have found the switch to the recycled oil stove not only beneficial for their health but also convenient and cost-effective.
This stove represents a small but significant innovation that addresses critical issues of waste management, public health, and environmental sustainability. By recycling used oils and creating a clean-burning cooking alternative, Tankeu’s invention is improving the lives of many in Cameroon, offering a model for sustainable development in other parts of Africa and beyond. The stove’s success demonstrates how local solutions to global problems can have a meaningful impact on everyday lives, particularly for women who often bear the brunt of health risks from traditional cooking methods.
As Tankeu’s stove gains popularity, it exemplifies the power of innovation in tackling pressing environmental and health issues. It offers a glimpse into a future where recycling and sustainable practices can improve lives, protect the environment, and foster economic growth—all while providing a cleaner, safer way to cook.
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