The construction of an oil and tire recycling plant has been completed by Hercules Global in the Sandiara Special Economic Zone in Senegal. The facility has been established to recycle used motor oil and end-of-life tires into carbon black and lubricants which can be used within the automotive sector.
The Sandiara facility comprises three separate plants: a lubricant mixing unit with a three million ton per annum capacity; an ELT recycling plant for reusable carbon black; and an aluminum alloy plant. The recovered tire and oil materials are marketed in Senegal only, while the aluminum recycling products are sold and shipped to Toyota.
“We are cleaning the country,” commented Manoj Solanki, founder of Hercules. “I noticed that freight had gotten too [expensive] before Covid, and Senegal didn’t have its own lubricant manufacturing industry. I saw the potential to establish one here and also supply neighboring countries.”
Senegal’s strategic position, stable governance and efforts by the current mayor of Sandiara, Serigne Gueye Diop, to develop Senegal’s domestic market also influenced the decision.
“The purpose of the SEZ is to produce more innovative and sustainable Senegalese products to balance the trade deficit,” added Gueye Diop. “We are concentrating our efforts on heavy industry and the energy sector.”
Hercules is also aiming to establish Senegal as a base for exporting to neighboring countries.
“We’re looking into lubricant sales to countries like Burkina Faso, Mali and The Gambia. In the coming years, we will open showrooms and expand our presence in the region,” said Solanki.
