In the heart of a northern Tunisian olive grove, where the silver leaves of ancient trees dance in the wind, Yassine Khelifi’s workshop hums with purpose. Here, amidst the whispers of tradition and the echoes of generations past, a quiet revolution is underway. The air is thick with the scent of olives, not in their golden oil form, but in what remains after their essence is pressed away. Where others see waste, Khelifi sees untapped potential, a golden ember waiting to be ignited. 

Tunisia, a land of rolling olive orchards and sun-baked earth, is one of the world’s largest producers of olive oil. Yet, with every harvest, mountains of olive residue are left behind, dismissed as mere byproduct. For centuries, farmers have repurposed this waste, feeding their fires and warming their homes with what nature provided. But Khelifi envisioned something greater—a way to transform this agricultural castoff into a sustainable fuel that could reduce Tunisia’s reliance on expensive, imported energy. 

Khelifi’s startup, Bioheat, is more than just a business; it is an ode to ingenuity, a testament to resilience, and a bold step toward a cleaner, more self-sufficient future. In a world where resources are strained and sustainability is no longer optional, his innovation bridges the past and the future, breathing new life into what was once discarded. 

From Waste to Wealth: The Potential of Olive Residue 

Holding a handful of compressed olive residue, thick and earthy, Khelifi marvels at the potential contained within. It is the very soul of the olive, a substance that has warmed homes and cooked meals for generations. Once overlooked, now it is at the heart of an evolving industry. 

For too long, this organic wealth has been treated as refuse, tossed aside like a relic of the pressing process. But within its dense fibers lies an untapped energy, waiting to be harnessed. What if the discarded could become the desired? What if the remnants of one process could fuel another? Khelifi’s work is the embodiment of these questions, a journey toward circular economy and environmental responsibility. 

Tunisia’s Olive Oil Industry and the Challenge of Waste 

The International Olive Council projects that Tunisia will rank as the world’s third-largest olive oil producer in 2024-2025, with an expected yield of 340,000 tonnes. This success, however, comes with an inevitable consequence: a staggering amount of waste. 

Khelifi, a son of the soil, grew up watching the rhythm of olive harvesting. He witnessed the labor, the care, and the centuries-old practices that kept Tunisia’s olive industry thriving. But he also saw the aftermath—piles of crushed olive paste, dark and damp, left to dry in forgotten corners of oil mills. He remembers seeing workers toss the residue into fires, watching it smolder and burn. 

“I always wondered how this material could burn for so long without going out,” he reflects. “That’s when I asked myself: why not turn it into energy?” 

Innovation and the Birth of Bioheat 

Beyond financial ambition, Khelifi sees his work as a mission—to preserve the environment, to reduce deforestation, to offer an alternative to firewood in a country where trees are dwindling under the weight of climate change. His workshop is a place of transformation, where truckloads of olive waste arrive, stacked high, waiting to be reborn. 

His process is meticulous: the residue is fed into powerful machines, pressed into compact cylindrical briquettes, then left to dry under the Mediterranean sun and in specialized greenhouses. The end result is a fuel source that is efficient, clean, and sustainable—a material once dismissed, now repurposed into an asset. 

Overcoming Challenges to Develop a New Energy Source 

No great innovation comes without obstacles. Khelifi’s journey was paved with them, each step a test of perseverance. In 2018, he scoured Europe, seeking a machine that could bring his vision to life. He met only with disappointment—nothing quite fit his needs. 

Determined, he returned to Tunisia, rolling up his sleeves, experimenting, failing, learning. For four years, he toiled with engines, mechanical parts, and heat compression techniques, each trial bringing him closer to perfection. By 2021, he had created a machine capable of producing briquettes with just eight percent moisture—an impressive feat compared to traditional firewood, which retains more than double that amount and requires months of drying. 

Market Demand and International Expansion 

What began as an experiment has now become a thriving enterprise. Bioheat has captured the interest of local businesses, from traditional guesthouses to bustling restaurants, all seeking a cleaner, more cost-effective fuel. But Tunisia is only the beginning—60 percent of Bioheat’s production is destined for foreign markets, with France and Canada among the top buyers. 

The impact is tangible. Selim Sahli, the owner of a picturesque guesthouse, speaks of how these briquettes have transformed his business. “It’s an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative,” he says. “It’s clean, easy to use, and has reduced my heating costs by a third.” 

Mohamed Harrar, a pizza shop owner, has found an unexpected benefit: the briquettes not only burn with minimal smoke but also infuse his pizzas with the subtle essence of Tunisian olives. “It carries the soul of the olive tree,” he says, a poetic nod to the harmony between sustainability and tradition. 

The Environmental and Economic Benefits of Olive Waste Fuel 

Tunisia’s olive waste dilemma is both a challenge and an opportunity. Agricultural expert Noureddine Nasr estimates that 600,000 tonnes of olive waste are produced each year. If harnessed correctly, this could revolutionize Tunisia’s energy landscape. 

The country’s reliance on imported fuel is a burden, stretching government subsidies and widening trade deficits. In winter, fuel shortages are common, particularly in the northwestern regions, where bitter cold bites into underdeveloped communities. Bioheat’s innovation offers a potential remedy—turning local agricultural waste into a homegrown energy source, easing dependency, and fostering economic resilience. 

Challenges of Running a Green Startup in Tunisia 

Despite the promise, the road to sustainability is far from smooth. Khelifi’s greatest challenge was financial—securing funding in Tunisia’s high-interest loan market felt like an uphill battle. “It was like walking on a road full of potholes,” he admits. Yet, undeterred, he pressed forward, fueled by a vision that was bigger than the barriers in his way. 

Looking Ahead: The Future of Bioheat and Olive Waste Energy 

The future, much like an olive grove stretching beyond the horizon, is full of possibility. Khelifi dreams of expanding Bioheat’s reach, refining his technology, and exploring new avenues for olive waste utilization. From biochar to more advanced fuel alternatives, he sees endless potential in the remnants of Tunisia’s most cherished crop. 

For now, his focus is clear—proving that sustainability and profitability can coexist, that a nation can turn its waste into wealth, and that a single idea, born in the quiet contemplation of an olive grove, can light the way toward a greener future. 

Khelifi’s journey is not just about fuel; it is about transformation—of waste, of energy, and of the way we see the world around us.