Factory for extracting olive oil residue in Koura

The Lebanese Olive Oil Company (LOOC) will open a factory in Koura next November for extracting olive oil residue.

Ibrahim Maalouf, Chairman said, “The factory is environmentally friendly, it solves the problem of olive oil residue, which if burned would cause emissions.”

The $4 million factory measures 13,000 square meters and has a 6,000 m2 built-up area. Maalouf said that the company benefited from a loan supported by the Central Bank (BDL) at 0.2 percent interest to build and automate the factory.

The factory will extract 150 tons of olive oil residue per day. Maalouf said that part of the production will be used by the company’s soap factory. Residue may be used as animal feed, as fertilizer, for heating, or as a filter for water purification. Maalouf said that after extracting the oil, residue may be burned without causing pollution.