It’s been over three years since construction on the Chad-Cameroon petroleum pipeline was completed in mid-2003, and since oil began flowing through the pipe. For BOCOM Recycling, the day it won a contract to manage industrial waste for the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company (COTCO), Exxon Mobil’s subsidiary that manages the pipeline in Cameroon, was a turning point. In early 2003, “we had six people working for us, one truck and three cisterns to treat sludge oil,” reflects Dieudonné Bougne, the company’s General Manager. Its turnover was only about 5 million CFA ($10,600) a year.  | | Mr. Dieudonné Bougne, GM of BOCOM International |
Now, three years later, it counts 100 employees, two incinerators, water and used oil treatment units, and battery recycling activities. In 2005, its turnover had reached 2.5 billion CFA ($5.3 million). By 2005, it was processing over 15,000 kg a year in chemical waste, over 2,000 kg in oily debris and smaller amounts of medical waste, trash and motor oil for COTCO. What made the difference? Two things. When COTCO hired BOCOM to treat its sludge oil and water waste, it brought with it the contractual obligation to meet the highest international environmental norms. COTCO, and all its subcontractors, must abide by the Environmental Management Plan of the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline project, which because of the World Bank Group’s backing is in compliance with the lending institutions’ stringent social and environmental safeguards policies. And secondly: COTCO was willing to train BOCOM staff and provide technical support so that they could meet these international standards. This was the boost they needed. Now, BOCOM surpasses international standards. A 2004 test on stack emissions from its two incinerators that destroy hazardous and toxic waste, found that BOCOM’s emissions levels were “significantly lower than United States EPA standards”.  | | A pile of car batteries waiting to be separated into reclyclable lead and plastic and other other components to be incinerated |  | | Stacks of refined lead lingots of 35kg each, ready to be exported to France or the U.K. |
Not only has BOCOM seized on the training and growth to diversify into other activities like recycling lead batteries, it has also grown horizontally: it recently started exporting the lead recycled from those batteries to the U.K and France. Currently, it turns the plastic battery parts into pellets, and resells them. But the company is looking into transforming the pellets into plastic roof tiles on site, capturing the value-added. And it is quickly becoming a national and regional reference in its sector. “The government has asked me to review and provide input on the national strategy for industrial waste management,” says Mr. Bougne, proudly showing a letter from the Minister of Environment and Natural Protection of Cameroon. And last October, following the toxic waste dumping disaster that took place in Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Bougne decided to hold a press conference in Douala to sensitize industries and the general population that the same thing could happen in Cameroon if the nation did not handle its toxic waste properly. Recently, the Government of the Republic of Congo invited him to Brazzaville to explore the possibilities of BOCOM setting up a subsidiary there and handling some of that country’s industrial waste. “We’re pleasantly surprised by the growing interest in our company, and the turn that we have taken in the last few years,” said Mr. Bougne, the pride and gratification reflected in his smile. To respond to the growing interest and to continue to share their experiences with others, BOCOM will host an open-house in June 2007, to which they are expecting to receive the Environment ministers of other African countries. Rendez-vous in Douala in Spring 2007. |
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