Côte d’Ivoire pioneers Africa’s first industrial biochar plant from cashew shells

Revolution in cashew processing: Côte d’Ivoire unveils groundbreaking biochar facility

On June 18, 2026, government officials in Côte d’Ivoire officially launched Africa’s first large-scale industrial unit dedicated to converting cashew shells into biochar in the Attinguié industrial zone, located near Abidjan’s PK 31 industrial park.

The project, spearheaded by Valency International, transforms cashew processing waste—once discarded as agricultural residue—into high-value industrial products for energy and manufacturing sectors.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Kalil Konaté, Minister of Trade, Industry and Crafts, alongside government representatives, institutional leaders and technical partners.

The facility stands as Africa’s first commercial-scale biochar plant using cashew shells, with an annual processing capacity of 20,000 tons of cashew residues. It is expected to produce 6,000 tons of biochar per year, while also generating biofuel and clean energy through an innovative agricultural byproduct valorization system.

The initiative aims to reduce waste from the cashew industry while opening new economic pathways within this key agricultural sector. “This marks a shift from agricultural waste to strategic industrial assets,” stated Minister Konaté, emphasizing the project’s contribution to local value creation and sustainable industrial growth.

Following the ceremony, the Minister toured the facilities with executives from Valency International and Revata Carbon, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting innovative industrial projects that drive job creation and economic expansion.

As the world’s leading producer of raw cashew nuts, Côte d’Ivoire continues to advance its strategy to boost local processing of cashew products, maximizing economic benefits from this vital crop. This new biochar plant reinforces the nation’s drive toward a high-performance processing industry, further embedding circular economy principles into its agricultural value chains.

The facility demonstrates Côte d’Ivoire’s resolve to position industrial transformation as a cornerstone of sustainable economic development.