In order to take advantage of the abundant material resource available in the country, the federal government has inaugurated the Inter-ministerial Steering Committee that would work towards the establishment of the fuel ethanol industry in Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Edmund Daukoru
(centre) during the inter-ministerial meeting with representatives
from the Ministries of Petroleum Resources, Environment,
Commerce, Agriculture, Science and Technology and Finance Inaugurating the committee in Abuja recently, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Edmund Daukoru, who represented the President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, noted that Nigeria was blessed with abundant material resources with convenient alternatives to support the fuel ethanol industry.

He cited Brazil as a country that started the experiment in fuel ethanol as a result of the energy crises that it found itself enmeshed in, adding however that, that country grew to take a leading position in the production of fuel ethanol.

The Minister of State remarked that it was because the entire world was getting deeply concerned with the contribution of fossil fuel to environmental pollution, that global initiatives sought for durable and environmentally friendly alternatives from biomass.

He therefore called on members of the inter-ministerial committee to streamline their priorities within the context of the various alternative routes for ethanol production.

The Group General Manager, Renewable Energy Division of the NNPC, Engr. O. A. Anyaoku who spoke at the occasion, outlined the mission and vision of the programme, explaining that a three-step approach would be applied to ensure the successful take-off of the industry.

These included planning, building the foundation, and growing _ all of which had built-in and articulated sub-plans of action.

While maintaining that the NNPC has the vision to create a thriving domestic ethanol industry within the next five years, the GGM identified the following as the key elements of the vision: Maximisation of carbon credit opportunities, producing alternative fuel that is environmentally friendly; creation of rural wealth and jobs; and the establishment of a thriving home grown industry.

Other key elements of the vision are: integrating the oil and gas sector with the agriculture sector; creating sustainable development and bringing about energy self-sufficiency.

The vision, when achieved, he said, would bring about reduction in the dependence on oil while creating a viable commercial venture at a lower cost of production.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Turner Isoun stated that alcohols in general and ethanol in particular made excellent fuels, adding that over dependence on gasoline has delayed investment in ethanol.

The committee, which has ten terms of reference is to among other things, ensure that appropriate incentives were created to attract private sector participation as well as ensure the development and enforcement of appropriate regulations to sustain the implementation of the fuel ethanol programme.

The committee is to also ensure that state and local governments including other stakeholders are encouraged to focus on the necessary infrastructural development needed to drive the industry, just as it will be expected to constantly keep in focus, the strategic intent and corporate objectives of the programme as well as ensure access to critical project resources.

The committee is to also provide active management and sponsorship of fuel ethanol programe through strategic planning, plan monitoring and allocation of needed resources.