Lang
Leftover cooking oil collected from restaurants in central China's Henan Province is now being converted into bio-based aviation kerosene through a series of advanced processing steps, a development that is reshaping the value of what was once considered low-grade industrial waste.
In Puyang City, Henan, restaurant workers gather used cooking oil in sealed collection buckets and transport it to dedicated food waste disposal stations for further treatment. Puxin Company, which operates one of these facilities, has now processed more than 50,000 tons of food waste, extracting industrial-grade mixed oil at a yield of roughly 3 percent.
'The greatest significance of transforming waste oils and fats lies in their conversion into bio-based aviation fuel, turning from a common industrial waste into a high-end clean energy,' said Chen Yahui, director of Puxin Company's food waste disposal operation department. The extracted material is processed further by downstream producers and ultimately upgraded into aviation-grade biofuel.
The feedstock supply chain for these processors extends well beyond Henan. Companies operating in the sector also source used cooking oil from neighbouring provinces, building a regional collection network that supports a growing, export-oriented industry.
The market for the resulting product has strengthened sharply this year. According to Hu Rui, operation director of Henan Junheng Industrial Group Biotechnology Co., Ltd., the price of bio-based aviation kerosene climbed from around USD 2,200 per ton at the start of the year to roughly USD 2,500 per ton by July, a gain of more than 10 percent in just six months. Export volumes rose by approximately 20 percent year on year, and order books are already filled through 2027.
The development underscores how waste oils and fats are being repositioned in the global energy mix, moving from a disposal challenge to a strategic feedstock for sustainable aviation.
In a separate report, U.S. intelligence assessments cited by The New York Times indicate that Iran has grown more confident in its military capabilities after more than six months of war and is increasingly convinced of the leverage needed to sustain its confrontation with the United States. The assessments paint a picture far removed from early expectations, when President Donald Trump confidently foresaw a quick and decisive victory following the launch of U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran on February 28.
After months of intermittent fighting, Tehran has developed a better understanding of both its military strengths and the limits of U.S. power, officials briefed on the intelligence said. The assessments show that Iran has now become more convinced of the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil shipments. Iran appears determined to prolong the war at least until the November midterm elections in the U.S. to increase political and economic pressure on Washington.
Source: bastillepost.com