Sarah Gaquere, Year 8

On Monday, 25th November, our class paid a visit to OMSA, a soap factory. We are accompanied by our class teacher Mrs Mbaka and Mr David. We wore our nose masks on arrival and were divided into groups of four for a tour around the factory. We were shown the different machines used in making soap. The best discovery is that they use natural resources in the production of soap. These include palm kernel oil, red oil, silicate, ethanol and water. Some of the ingredients used in the factory are locally produced in Benin, while a few others are imported from India.

The first step they showed us is to mix palm oil, red oil and stearing oil in a large rectangular container, and then heat the mixture. Then they mix caustic soda, water, sugar and silicate, after which the heated oil is transferred through a hose into the container with caustic soda, water and silicate. The mixture is converted to soap in a process called saponification. The soft soap is kept for 24 hours to harden and dry. This hard soap is transported to a mixer where perfume and ethanol are added, and the soap crushed again and malleated well. The final product, which is called SAI soap, is then passed through a rolling ball that gives it shape and cuts it in bars. Nothing is wasted. The particles of soap that fall off from the machines are taken back to the mixer.

The trip was a special moment of sharing knowledge through the help of the Director, Mr Bharat Rajsahu, who emphasised on the factory’s use of natural resources to save the environment. At the end, the Director gave us soap and gift bags. I really appreciate Ste OMSA sarl for this wonderful opportunity.

Lorena Massry, Year 8

Our class Year 8, went on a field trip to Ste OMSA sarl on Monday 25th November 2024. When we arrived, we were welcome by Mr Bharat Rajsahu, the Director of the soap factory. We were shown the different stages the ingredients pass through before soap is made. At first, the mixture of palm kernel oil, red oil and fat from oil are heated to a certain temperature and taken to another machine where there are mixed with a solution of caustic soda, water, silicate and sugar. This process is called saponification. The liquid is kept for 24 hours to harden. The lumps are taken in 25kgs to a mixer-another machine that malleates the soap and mixes it with perfume and ethanol. The soap is then passed through a roller board that gives it the rectangular shape and cuts it into small bars. The final product is a soap called SAI soap.

The trip was really fun and educative. We acquired a lot of knowledge and are grateful for this. We were given gifts by the management. I love the SAI soap with citron flavour. My classmates and I also realised that soap making is not a complicated process.