The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced plans to establish 65,000 million litres per annum biofuel plant in Okeluse, Ondo state.
To this end, the government agency has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government saying the plant would ensure unimpeded supply of petroleum products and safeguard the environment through reduction of carbon emission.
The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, revealed this when Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state led a delegation for the MoU signing ceremony at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.
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Baru said the project would also have the inputs of some investors who would bring foreign direct investment into the country.
Signing of the MoU for the establishment of the plant. Credit: NNPC
According to Baru, the construction of the plant and the production of cassava feedstock could create at least one million direct and indirect jobs and help in the reduction of fuel import, greenhouse gas emission to combat global warming, and boost in the production of animal feeds from by-products of the plant.
The NNPC boss denied that there could be negative impact on the supply of cassava-based foods for human consumption.
He stressed that the cassava that would be used for the biofuel project was a special breed that would not be in competition for human consumption or interfere with the activities of farmers cultivating other breeds of cassava or indeed other crops.
“Your Excellency, we have already discussed with you and you have agreed to make 15,000 hectares of land available towards the cultivation of this cassava.
“It will, of course, in the process invite people who are used to farming cassava as well as new entrepreneurs who want to go into that business to participate in the cultivation of the cassava that we are going to use for the production of the fuel ethanol.
“We expect that this plant, when built, will be producing at least 65 million litres per annum of fuel ethanol that could be blended into our Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and will be used in Nigeria and neighbouring countries when exported,” Dr Baru said while disclosing that the biofuel project would be fitted with a 40 megawatts electricity plant that would also supply power to the host communities.
Akeredolu with Baru. Credit: NNPC
"The benefits of this project to Nigeria and specifically to Ondo State are immense and NNPC is very eager to see it implemented.
“We are working with the investors who will invest because there are several dimensions to the project,” Dr Baru explained in a statement from Ndu Ughamadu, the group general manager in charge of public affairs.
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Governor Akeredolu earlier expressed confidence that the biofuel project would take off for the benefit of the people of Ondo and the country in general.
He said the state has enough farmers as well as cassava to sustain the plant.
NAIJ.com earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari and some governors from the northern part of Nigeria recently met concerning issues relating to possible oil exploration in the region as well as security among others.
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Source: Naija.ng
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