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Value addition · Naivasha Special Economic Zone
Our avocado oil project: from East African orchards to crude and extra virgin oil
From orchard to oil, with the farmers at the centre
Konza Tropicals is building an integrated avocado oil extraction, refining and bottling plant on its own site in the Naivasha Special Economic Zone, Nakuru County. The plant turns the oil grade Hass and Fuerte fruit of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi into crude, extra virgin and refined avocado oil for refiners, brand owners and ingredient buyers worldwide.
Why value addition
A third of the crop never leaves the farm as fresh fruit. We turn it into oil.
East Africa is now one of the largest avocado origins in the world, with a season that complements the Americas. Every year a large share of the harvest does not meet fresh export grade because of size, skin blemish or ripeness, and much of it is lost. Pressed within days of harvest, that fruit gives an oil with the same fatty acid profile as the fruit itself: high in oleic acid, rich in chlorophyll and carotenoids, and stable at high cooking temperatures.
The plant
An integrated avocado oil hub in the Naivasha Special Economic Zone
Naivasha sits in the middle of the Rift Valley growing areas, on the Nairobi to Nakuru highway and the standard gauge railway, with geothermal power and industrial water. The plant is designed as a complete value addition hub: cold pressed extraction of crude avocado oil from Hass and Fuerte fruit, refining, deodorising and bottling for food, cosmetic and ingredient customers, with frozen pulp, dried fruit and compost from residues planned in later phases.
- Site: 2.403 hectares (5.938 acres) at Naivasha SEZ, Nakuru County, 50 year lease from December 2025.
- Process: washing and destoning, malaxing below 50 °C, decanter separation, polishing, filtration and nitrogen blanketed storage; refining, bleaching and deodorising for neutral grades.
- Products: crude cold pressed oil in flexitanks and drums, extra virgin oil, refined oil under customer brands, and cosmetic grades.
- Circular: pomace and stones to compost and animal feed, returned to the farms that supply the fruit.
- Timeline: site activation and licensing in 2026, first phase commissioning targeted for 2027; crude oil exports already running from partner plants in the region.
Impact
What the project changes for growers, counties and customers
We report on farmer income, volumes, certification, jobs and residues returned to soil, and we welcome offtake, technology and development partners who want to be part of the project. Detailed project documents are available on request.
FAQ
Questions about the avocado oil project
Can I buy crude avocado oil from Konza Tropicals now?
Yes. While the Naivasha plant is being built we supply crude cold pressed avocado oil from partner plants in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, with a certificate of analysis for every batch and pre shipment samples two weeks before loading.
Where is the plant and why there?
In the Naivasha Special Economic Zone, Nakuru County, Kenya, in the middle of the Rift Valley growing areas, with road and rail links to Mombasa, geothermal power and SEZ licensing.
Where does the fruit come from?
From our own Hass plantations, our outgrower programme and the oil grade fruit of partner packhouses in Kenya, with additional sourcing from Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
What grades and packaging will be available?
Crude cold pressed oil in 22 tonne flexitanks, 190 kg drums and IBCs; extra virgin and refined oil bottled under customer brands; cosmetic and pharmaceutical grades.
Contact
Talk to us about avocado oil
Buyers, refiners, equipment makers and partners: write to us with your specification, volume and destination.