Ahil Petroleum Limited in Kalipur, Bhairab town of Kishoreganj is producing diesel, petrol, octane and gas from discarded polythene and plastic. Entrepreneur Yusuf Ahmed Galib said work on the project began in August 2018, following a Thailand-based Sepco company pattern and guidance from Bangladesh’s Access to Information, or a2i. The facility currently processes 1,000 kilograms of waste polythene daily and collects about 500 litres of fuel oil.

The initiative has drawn support from local residents and the upazila administration because polythene waste is described as a major environmental threat. The report says discarded bags and packets do not decompose easily and can damage rivers, canals, wetlands, drainage systems and soil fertility. Visitors are reportedly gathering daily at the new factory to observe the fuel and gas production process.

Gas generated at the plant is currently used as factory fuel rather than collected separately. The facility also collects ash or black carbon, which is intended for making printer ink. Citing Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research testing, the report says the fuel has a quality rating of 93.56 and 1.56 percent higher fuel efficiency than normal fuel. Bhairab Upazila নির্বাহী Officer K M Mamunur Rashid welcomed the initiative and promised administrative support.