FG Applauds NNPC Foray Into Renewable Energy
The Federal Government has commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for venturing into the development of renewable energy across the country.
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, gave this commendation during his visit to the NNPC’s pavilion at the ongoing Technology and Innovation Expo 2018 at the Eagles Square in Abuja.
Dr. Onu said the NNPC’s foray into renewable energy would help the country to maintain energy security, boost the national economy and position her for fuel export market.
“It is important that we spend a lot of our energy in making sure that we prepare for the future and the future is in renewable energy. I feel happy that this is going on. We are collaborating with NNPC in that respect to make it a reality,” Dr. Onu affirmed.
Dr. Onu disclosed that his Ministry was interfacing with the corporation in converting flared gas into methanol, adding that methanol and ethanol production in the country would go a long way in making the country stable in energy supply.
“Because of the abundance of natural gas in Nigeria, we should be able to use all the flared gas and convert it into methanol which will make it more useful not just in energy but in power and petrochemical industries. We need to build a strong chemical industry in Nigeria to enable us industrialize in a manner that will make us truly a great nation,” Dr. Onu enthused.
The Minister thanked the NNPC for participating in the expo and for the support it gave to the Ministry in hosting Technology and Innovation Expo, stressing that the mere participation of the corporation is very important to the entire expo.
Economic Confidential recalls recently when Dr Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC ), said that the company is investing in renewable energy to accelerate Nigeria’s industrial development.
At the just concluded 39th Kaduna International Trade Fair, he noted that NNPC had set up a Renewable Energy Division not only to develop solar and other renewable energy sources, but to also develop bio-fuels from agricultural produce.
According to him, the multiplier effects of such ventures include reviving the agricultural sector and generating huge employment. “Not only that, the bio-fuel will be blended to our refineries petroleum products, which will significantly reduce imports of petroleum products into the country,” he said.
