Nigeria to produce biodiesel commercially
Nigeria will start producing biodiesel commercially at some point next year, say scientists.
Nigeria has been experimenting with biodiesel for several years. The Sweden-based telecoms operator Ericsson funded the first pilot biodiesel production in Nigeria under its corporate responsibility programme: several operators have been powering their mobile base stations in areas not connected to the electricity grid with B20 blends for several years. But recently they have had to import millions of tonnes as the local supply has proved insufficient.
Now Ebenezer M. Okonkwo, director general of the Natural Research Institute for Chemical Technology, believes that the country’s first commercial biodiesel plant, using local plantation crops including 7 hectares of jatropha, will be operating by the the end of next year.
Nigeria is not short of fossil oil, but Okonkwo explained that the country wishes to prepare itself for when the wells do begin to run out as well as reducing its carbon footprint.
Nigeria has been experimenting with biodiesel for several years. The Sweden-based telecoms operator Ericsson funded the first pilot biodiesel production in Nigeria under its corporate responsibility programme: several operators have been powering their mobile base stations in areas not connected to the electricity grid with B20 blends for several years. But recently they have had to import millions of tonnes as the local supply has proved insufficient.
Now Ebenezer M. Okonkwo, director general of the Natural Research Institute for Chemical Technology, believes that the country’s first commercial biodiesel plant, using local plantation crops including 7 hectares of jatropha, will be operating by the the end of next year.
Nigeria is not short of fossil oil, but Okonkwo explained that the country wishes to prepare itself for when the wells do begin to run out as well as reducing its carbon footprint.
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