Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (be’ah), a leader in solid waste management, said that the deadline for the submission project proposals to convert used-cooking oil (UCO) into biodiesel has been extended to August 31.

Offers, originally due by August 16, may now be handed in by August 31, 2020, the state-run utility said in an email to companies that had registered their interest in the initiative.

Last month, be’ah invited interest investors to prequalify for a competitive tender leading to the award of a contract for the management and recycling of UCO in the Sultanate, reported Oman Observer.

 The initiative is expected to lead to the production and sale of biodiesel in Oman, said be’ah.

“The purpose of this pre-qualification document is to assess international and local interest from developers with relevant experience to manage the collection and/or the treatment of generated (used cooking oil) from local generators to be utilised as feedstock into biodiesel production, on a Design, build, own and operate (DBOO) basis,” be’ah said in a statement.

The utility is allocating a 25,000 sq m plot of land within the Barka landfill for the establishment of the biodiesel facility.

Be’ah clarified that it is currently in the process of assessing the quantity of used cooking oil that may become available as feedstock for conversion into biodiesel.

“As of now, be’ah currently has no commitments with any entities working in the UCO stream; however, be’ah is working in close collaboration with the ministries to force all commercial UCO generators to register with be’ah for a collection system. This will be initiated in phases starting with Muscat Governorate,” the statement added.