Côte d’Ivoire launches industrial biochar plant from cashew shells
The Ivory Coast has taken a major step toward sustainable industrial innovation with the inauguration of a cutting-edge biochar production facility in Attinguié, located within the PK 31 industrial zone on the outskirts of Abidjan.
Developed by Valency International, this ambitious project redefines the value of cashew nut shells—long dismissed as mere agricultural waste—by converting them into high-value resources for the energy and industrial sectors.
The official launch ceremony was led by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Crafts, Kalil Konaté, alongside key government officials, institutional leaders and technical partners. The event highlighted the facility’s role as Africa’s first large-scale commercial biochar plant dedicated to processing cashew shells, with an annual capacity to handle 20,000 tons of cashew processing residues.
The plant is expected to produce 6,000 tons of biochar annually, while also generating biofuel and clean energy through advanced agricultural byproduct valorization technology. This transformative approach not only reduces environmental waste but also unlocks new economic opportunities within the cashew value chain.
« This milestone marks the shift from agricultural byproducts to strategic industrial inputs,» stated Minister Kalil Konaté during the ceremony. He emphasized how the project aligns with national goals of fostering local value creation, sustainable industrial growth and job creation.
Following the inauguration, the Minister toured the facility alongside executives from Valency International and Revata Carbon, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting innovative, job-generating industrial ventures that drive economic expansion.
As the world’s leading producer of raw cashew nuts, the Ivory Coast continues to strengthen its strategy of increasing local cashew processing to maximize economic returns from the crop. This new biochar unit reinforces the country’s vision of building a high-performance processing industry grounded in circular economy principles, where agricultural residues are transformed into valuable industrial inputs.
With this landmark infrastructure, the cashew sector gains fresh momentum, and the government reaffirms its dedication to industrial transformation as a cornerstone of sustainable economic development.
