MUSCAT, MAY 13
A groundbreaking initiative is revolutionising the way people think about energy production and waste management. Dr Lamya al Haj, an Associate Professor at the College of Science at Sultan Qaboos University, has spearheaded a remarkable project that aims to transform waste date seeds into biodiesel, paving the way for a more sustainable future for the Middle East region.
Gaining traction, the World Economic Forum (WEF) recently featured a video Dr Al Haj’s work. In the featured video, the journey towards biofuel production from date kernels began in 2015 when Dr Al Haj and her team recognised the vast potential of utilising the oil content in date seeds to create biodiesel.
With Oman being a significant consumer of dates, there was an abundance of waste generated from the seeds, which were traditionally used for coffee. This innovative idea sparked a seven-year-long research and development process, culminating in the successful production of biodiesel from date kernels.
"The date seeds were used for coffee as coffee beans. And we thought, can we actually utilise the oil content in the seeds to convert that into biodiesel, because it has about 9 to 15% of oil in the seeds. And that's what sparked the idea in the very beginning," Dr Al Haj explained.
The first tangible outcome of this groundbreaking research was the launch of a Mwasalat bus in Oman powered entirely by biodiesel derived from waste date kernels. This achievement marked a significant milestone, showcasing the potential for renewable energy solutions to replace traditional fossil fuels in the transportation sector.
"For me, it was a personal achievement because I wanted to drive home the point that research can go from the lab to the road, and it's a very strong message to send to our youth, to our students, to our society, that research should be focused on real problems in our countries and in the world," Dr Al Haj expressed.
Beyond the environmental benefits of reducing waste and carbon emissions, the biofuel production project in Oman carries wide-ranging social and economic implications. By creating a demand for date kernels as a raw material for biodiesel production, the project has the potential to generate new sources of income for farmers and create job opportunities in the agricultural sector.
"So this is going to create jobs for the farmers because instead of them throwing the seeds on in the farming industry, now they're going to actually be part of the solution for the collection," Dr Al Haj highlighted.
The biofuel revolution in Oman stands as a shining example of innovation, collaboration, and perseverance in the face of daunting challenges. Dr Al Haj's pioneering work exemplifies the transformative power of research and development in addressing pressing environmental issues and shaping a more sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come.
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