Transforming Waste into Energy in Côte d'Ivoire

The technical team from our organization was sent to Abidjan in January 2025 for the installation and commissioning of the plant. The conditions on site were not only unique but required innovative professional solutions.

Adapting to the Tropical Weather Conditions One of the challenges experienced by our engineers in Abidjan was related to the climatic conditions where we had to deal with heat and humidity. The conditions posed several difficulties concerning conventional cooling, causing inadequate condensation of the oil gas. Some innovations were put forward to counter this challenge.

The technology applied in this project involved the application of three-stage shell and tube condenser; the technology consisted of increasing the area of the condensation surface as well as using the water tower. Thus, the oil gas would be successfully cooled despite the outside temperature exceeding 32 degrees centigrade.

Site Optimization and Automation Since the plant was located in an area with a lot of industrial activity, there was not much room available. In order to facilitate the reactors in the available space at the factory, we used a “U-shape” model rather than a traditional straight line arrangement. Further, since there was a need for considerable labor input which could be variable and risky due to high temperatures, we included a hydraulic feeder. With the use of such technology, we are able to feed entire tires into the reactor, thereby reducing feeding expenses as well as saving up to 40% of time spent feeding.

Safety and Training Since the main issue was language and technical barriers, we prepared a two week training course for the operators. Our head engineer, who is fluent in French, provided practical training to the local operators in this regard. The focus was mainly on learning to handle high pressure situations as well as emergencies. We are incorporating a safety valve that works on negative pressure.