Ekiti LGs to get 16 mini bio-fuel refineries

The first one is expected to be constructed in the next three months at Iyemero, Ikole Local Government. When constructed, each of the refineries will produce 1,000 litres of ethanol fuel per day while 8,000 bio-fuel powered stoves will be distributed to members of the public free of charge upon commencement of production. One litre […]

The first one is expected to be constructed in the next three months at Iyemero, Ikole Local Government. When constructed, each of the refineries will produce 1,000 litres of ethanol fuel per day while 8,000 bio-fuel powered stoves will be distributed to members of the public free of charge upon commencement of production. One litre of the ethanol will sell for N70.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Wale Ojo-Lanre, said in a statement made available to journalists, that Governor Segun Oni, who spoke at a meeting with the executives of the bio-fuel company during a visit to his office in Ado Ekiti, said the project will address the problem of over-dependence on kerosene and fossil fuel for domestic cooking.

He affirmed the readiness of the state government to alleviate poverty in the state by ensuring that the vast agricultural resources are converted to wealth through an industrial revolution that will shift the dependence of the people on government and make them self-reliant.

Governor Oni also offered to support the company with the clearing of the project site, with a proviso that cost of the clearing would be converted to equity contribution from the state government.

The governor who said that the country was faced with the problem of global warming, probably caused by gas flaring, use of electricity generators and firewood, said the state intends to curtail the ugly development by addressing it through the development of a bio-fuel base that would serve the rest of the country.

The governor was quoted in the statement as saying, “we are here to put in all that we have so that we can conquer the adversity of staying in a greenbelt and not utilizing the resources that it provides for us free. We want to take the economy of the state to such a level that the government will be able to feed on it, unlike now that the economy is feeding on the government. If we turn around our economy, all this pressure on politics will die down.”

Demonstrating the workings of the bio-fuel powered stove, Executive Director of Crownek, Mr Niyi Alabi, said one litre of the ethanol will burn for four and half hours as against kerosene, which will burn for one and half hours. He also said that unlike kerosene, the ethanol stove does not emit smoke.

Also speaking during the meeting, Chairman of the company, Captain Paul Thahal, commended Oni for championing the green energy revolution in Nigeria, saying the state and the entire country stand to benefit a lot from the emerging bio-fuel market if concerted efforts are made to ralise the enormous potentials that abound in the country.

It would be recalled that a $22.3 million dual purpose bio-fuel refinery was flagged off in Ipao-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area of the state two weeks ago.