On June 18, 2026, Ivorian officials inaugurated a groundbreaking biochar production facility in Attinguié, located within the industrial zone PK 31 on the outskirts of Abidjan. This project, spearheaded by Valency International, marks a significant shift in how cashew processing waste is perceived—transforming what was once discarded shells into valuable industrial inputs.
The inauguration ceremony was led by the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Crafts, Kalil Konaté, alongside key government, institutional, and technical partners. The facility stands as Africa’s first large-scale commercial unit dedicated to converting cashew shells into biochar, with an annual processing capacity of nearly 20,000 tons of cashew residues. This will yield approximately 6,000 tons of biochar annually, while also producing biofuel and electricity through advanced agricultural byproduct valorization.
The initiative is designed to address a long-standing challenge in the cashew industry: the environmental burden of shell waste. By repurposing these residues, the project not only mitigates pollution but also unlocks new economic opportunities within the cashew value chain, reinforcing the sector’s sustainability and profitability.
Minister Kalil Konaté emphasized the broader implications of this innovation, stating, “This milestone demonstrates how agricultural byproducts can be elevated into strategic industrial resources, fostering local value creation and sustainable industrial growth.” Following the ceremony, he toured the facility alongside representatives from Valency International and Revata Carbon, reaffirming the government’s commitment to backing innovative industrial ventures that drive job creation and economic expansion.
As the world’s top producer of raw cashew nuts, Côte d’Ivoire continues to prioritize local processing to capture greater economic benefits from the crop. The launch of this biochar unit aligns with the country’s broader ambition to build a robust, high-value cashew processing industry while promoting circular economy principles through the reuse of agricultural byproducts. This strategic move underscores the government’s vision to position industrial transformation as a cornerstone of sustainable economic development in the region.
