IPT AND USEK UNITE TO TRANSFORM WASTE INTO ENERGY AND DRIVE LEBANON’S CLEAN FUTURE
A new milestone marks Lebanon’s path toward sustainable innovation. The IPT Energy Center (IPTEC) and the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen their collaboration in renewable energy research and technology development, reaffirming IPT’s position as a driving force in the country’s energy transition and a growing regional reference in sustainable innovation.
As part of this partnership, the two institutions inaugurated the Experimental Research Station for Biodiesel Production, Lebanon’s first facility transforming used cooking oil into biodiesel. This breakthrough goes beyond research: it transforms waste into clean energy, and education into real-world impact, proving how purpose-driven innovation can redefine the future of energy. The ceremony gathered Professor Nehme Azoury, Senior Advisor to the University President Father Professor Joseph Makhoul, and Dr. Toni M. Issa, President of IPTEC and Executive Chairman of Issa Group, along with USEK faculty, students, and IPT representatives.
“Transforming used cooking oil into biodiesel reflects our belief that innovation is the foundation of progress,” said Dr. Toni M. Issa. “At IPT, we are not just evolving as a company, we are building an energy future grounded in science, sustainability, and collaboration. This project mirrors our journey toward becoming a regional benchmark in responsible energy development.”
Professor Nehme Azoury underlined the strategic value of the partnership, adding: “This collaboration with IPT demonstrates how academia and the private sector can work together to shape a more resilient Lebanon. Through research, innovation, and applied learning, our students are not only studying sustainability, they are living it.”
Launched in 2018, the IPT–USEK collaboration has evolved from an academic project into a national model for sustainable research, giving students and engineers direct access to applied studies in renewable fuels, resource recovery, and circular economy systems. The initiative also extends IPT’s wider sustainability agenda. The company was the first in Lebanon to publish a Carbon Footprint Measurement Report and an Annual Sustainability Report, setting the standard for transparency and environmental leadership long before ESG became a regional focus. Today, IPT continues to invest in R&D, clean technologies, and academic partnerships, transforming its sustainability strategy into tangible impact and reinforcing Lebanon’s role as a contributor to the regional energy transition.
