OUT of the frying pan into the firefight. British troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and other military bases around the world are to be told to recycle used cooking oil as fuel for military vehicles.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it was planning the move on environmental grounds. However, others have pointed out that the MoD is trying to cut costs wherever possible to fund Britain’s two conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The new plan may enable precious diesel to be bulked out with cleaned-up chip oil and other waste.

In addition, the recycled material could be sold on the domestic heating market.

British army bases produce huge volumes of oil from frying food and under the proposals announced last week in a Commons written answer, this would no longer be poured away.

Instead, it would be siphoned off, filtered and re-used, possibly fuelling vehicles such as armoured Land Rovers and Warriors.

Derek Twigg, a junior defence minister, said the MoD hoped to recycle used oils from mess kitchens for use in biodiesel, which is usually combined with ordinary fuel before being used in engines.

John “Lofty” Wiseman, a former soldier in the SAS and author of the bestselling SAS Urban Survival Handbook, welcomed the proposals.

“These days everyone wants to be green so it doesn’t surprise me that they are planning this,” he said.

“The thing is, the MoD has to pay for disposing of oils wherever it goes. It costs a lot, so it makes sense to recycle it. I think it’s a great idea. The lads won’t mind doing it — we’re used to recycling stuff in the army.”

Trials for the scheme are under way.

The move to bulk out fuel with waste oils comes as the MoD is trying to cut costs.

Leaked MoD documents quoted by Jane’s Defence Weekly suggest the ministry faces a £870m overspend for the period 2009-12.

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