OKIES VEEKY
To solve energy deficit in Nigeria, experts in renewable energy have called on the Federal Government to come up with better regulatory framework that will ensure that only certified individuals are allowed to build biogas plants.
The experts made this call in Warri, Delta State during a “Knowledge Sharing Workshop on: Sustainable Biogas Generation as an Alternative Energy Resource in Nigeria.” The event was organised by the “Higher Education Partnership for Subsaharan Africa (HEP-SSA) Projects at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun.
Prof. Isaac Itodo of the University of Agriculture, Markurdi, Benue, who spoke on “Sustainable Energy Resources: Practical Experience with Biogas Production and Utility” lamented that renewable energy in the country lacked proper regulation and technical expertise among others
Prof Itodo complained that most of the Biogas plants built in Nigeria were based on “trial and error” , adding that only about 25 Biogas gas plants were functional in a country of over 180 million population.
The Biogas expert said that Nigeria cannot meet her huge energy demand through hydro power source hence the need to invest on renewable energy sources.
He revealed that the Energy consumption per capita of a country was a parameter for measuring the economic index of that country.
According to Prof. Itodo, “the 8,000 megawatts we generate as electricity is a mere theory, Nigeria needs a minimum of sustained 35,000 megawatts to drive her industrial sector and other sectors of the economy.”
Prof Itodo who spoke to newsmen said there were different forms of renewable energy among which were: the Biofuel which included Biogas, the Solar Thermal among others.
He spoke further, “we must keep fate with the renewable energy technology because that is the only way the country can be energy independent and by implication stimulate other infrastructure like the ICT. Renewable energy is the only way we can reduce our electricity deficit and improve our energy per capita consumption. Our energy per capita consumption is very low compared to average countries in Africa like Gabon and others.”
Earlier, Dr Omonigho Otanocha, Project Coordinator, FUPRE-HEP-SSA, said the aim of the workshop was to share knowledge on the importance of Biogas to the people, environment and the country.
He disclosed that the program was aimed at propagating the sustainable production of Biogas as well as scale up technology so that Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and households can used the organic substances generated to produce energy.
According to Dr. Otanocha, “this project will last for two years between 2018 and 2020.It will be held in other four Universities in Nigeria which include: Edo University, Iyamho, University of Abuja, Alex Ekwueme University, Ebonyi and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta to build research and development.”
The FUPRE Vice Chancellor, Prof. Akii Ibhadode who was represented by Prof Akpofure Oke declared the workshop opened.
Prof. Kai Cheng of Brunel University, London, Prof. Benjamin Ubi, President, Biotechnology Society of Nigeria, were among resource persons who presented papers at the event.
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