2025 PIEA Africa Lubricants & Coolants Summit Champions Sustainable Waste Management in Oil Industry
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By James Nyaigoti,
The Petroleum Institute of East Africa (PIEA) today convened a pivotal sensitization forum on waste management solutions within the oil and lubricants sector, hosted at the Swiss Lenana Hotel, Nairobi.
The 2025 PIEA Africa Lubricants & Coolants Summit, Exhibition & Training Workshop brought together key industry stakeholders, regulatory bodies, and sustainability advocates for an in-depth dialogue on environmental stewardship and responsible production.
The summit, which began today, offered free entry to the public, featured major industry exhibitors including TotalEnergies Marketing Kenya, Rubis Energy Kenya, Bureau Veritas, and Vivo Energy Kenya. These companies showcased innovations and best practices in lubricant formulation, waste recovery, and eco-conscious coolant technologies.
Key Themes: Circular Economy and Extended Producer Responsibility
At the forefront of the summit’s agenda was the integration of circular economy principles into the oil and gas industry. A major voice during the forum was James Odongo, CEO of the Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organisation (KEPRO). KEPRO, a collaborative initiative formed by Kenyan businesses, is designed to manage the environmental impact of products across their entire life cycle.
In his remarks, Odongo emphasized the need for proactive industry-led regulation rather than relying solely on government intervention. “Kenya is not lacking in policy frameworks,” he noted. “The real gap lies in implementation. The oil and gas sector is already potentially over-regulated. Instead of adding more layers, we urge producers to unite under a common umbrella of self-regulation and take collective responsibility for the life cycle of their products.”
KEPRO’s push aligns with the government’s upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies that mandate producers to take responsibility for post-consumer waste management. Odongo stressed the importance of embedding sustainability early in the production chain, particularly for petroleum based products like motor oils, lubricants, and industrial coolants.
TAKATU Campaign: Grassroots Waste Management in Nairobi
A highlight of KEPRO’s current initiatives is the TAKATU campaign, a targeted waste management project focused on Nairobi’s public transport sector. Over the next two months, the campaign will engage 200 matatus (public minibuses) and five key informal settlements (kibandas). The project provides bins and waste disposal equipment to matatus, fostering better habits among commuters while raising awareness on environmental cleanliness and oil waste disposal.
“Our aim is not just about waste reduction,” said Odongo. “TAKATU is about investing in public service hygiene, building a culture of responsibility among users of public transport, and piloting scalable models for sustainable waste management.”
Industry Call to Action
The Lubricant Taskforce Chairperson also echoed similar sentiments, urging all stakeholders manufacturers, distributors, and end users to play an active role in the evolving waste management ecosystem. The summit served as a platform to reinforce the importance of cross-sector collaboration in transitioning toward environmentally responsible operations.
As Kenya positions itself as a regional leader in sustainable petroleum practices, forums like the PIEA Summit are crucial in bridging the gap between policy and practice. With growing attention on the environmental footprint of lubricants and coolants, the call for integrated solutions, innovation, and self-accountability has never been louder.
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