BEYOND FUEL SUBSIDY – THE PERCEPTION OF A FOOD TECHNOLOGIST AND THE ENVIRONMENT
■The Technology behind Bio -Ethanol started as far back as 1974 in Nigeria co- sponsored by one of the Oil majors then. Producing Absolute 98%, Potable 94-96% and Industrial Ethanol. Some Nigerians like Mr. Akindele Faleye of WufasAgronet, a food security (processing) advocate that anchored the programme are still alive to recant the story.
■ Brazil in the last 50 years perfected the use of regulations and direct government investment to develop a highly efficient Bio-fuel industry. E85%- formulation is 85% of Ethanol to a mix of PMS.
■ Nigeria has abundant raw materials for Bio-fuel wasting away e.g. Sugar processing waste called Molasses and large expanse of land for Cassava cultivation and farming.
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT.
The recent News Headlines that “FG targets 180billion Naira revenue from Cassava Bio- Ethanol by Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) which will be done on a pilot phase, aimed to build a biotechnology Industrial Park on a 20-hectares plot across 20 Universities, academia and R&D Institutes.
One aspect of our educational system that merit attention is one that invoke global competitiveness.
●What Nigeria need most is Government investment in the creation of knowledge to the younger generation in renewable cleaner energy sources for the 21st century rather than SUBSIDIZING THE OIL INDUSTRY.
● Renewable energy will prolong productivity with uninterrupted working hours especially in Food processing, various operations such as in cooling and other unit operations , while the emissions of carbon is minimized, checkmating Climate change actions.
JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP
WufasAgronet opined that 1% of oil revenues from the Oil companies Joint Venture Partnership (JVP) worth Billion of Dollars quarterly profits goes towards financing RENEWABLE energy Research and Development with necessary infrastructure put in place.
- This would pay huge economic,foreign policy and environmental / democracy dividends
- It could be the vehicle by which the new generation of Nigerians scientists and engineers could source new export industries and high wage jobs
- Also, flexible and sensitive regulations can spur private sectors innovation and investment in the renewable energy sector of Bio fuel.
CLIMATE CHANGE
The environmental consequences of our fossil fuel based economy is real in the drastic climate change globally, such as the Melting ice caps, Rising sea levels, Changing weather patterns, Violent tornadoes, Disappearing forests, Frequent hurricanes, Endless sand storm dust , Threatening human’s respirational illness and many others.
Countries like Brazil had already done this in the last 50 years . Brazil have used a mix of regulations and direct government investment to develop a highly efficient Bio fuel industry, above 70% of their vehicles now run on sugar based Ethanol instead of gasoline.
Nigeria like Brazil can try High fuel -efficiency standard like the E85 vehicles ( fuel formulation of 85% Ethanol) could be the future of the auto industry in Nigeria.These will not only check climate actions but create enabling jobs in agriculture that will eradicate poverty.
