Federal Government’s efforts to meet its targeted10 percent ethanol content in fuel by 2010 as part of efforts to realise the objective set by the United Nations in its Kyoto Agreement has received a boost.
This indication emerged as Global Biofuels Limited, initiator of the sweet sorghum biofuels project, said it targets a production capacity of approximately 1.5 million litres of fuel ethanol per day, when all its plants become fully operational.
Joseph Sanusi, former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and chairman of Global Biofuels Limited, stated this at a recent ground- breaking and foundation laying ceremony of the second project site in Ekiti State.
The Ekiti State sweet sorghum biofuels project is the second of seven proposed plants for the refining of sweet sorghum fuel ethanol in the country.
It is held that the proposed establishment of the 11,000 hectares of sweet sorghum farm, integrated ethanol refinery complex and life camp at Ilemeso-Ekiti, in Oye Local Government Council of the state, will further facilitate government efforts geared at meeting the 10 percent ethanol content in fuel by 2010.
Sanusi, who was represented by Solomon Oladunni, vice-chairman, Global Biofuels, noted that on completion, the project would also create employment for over 58,000 Nigerians in each participating state.
The choice of sweet sorghum as feedstock for the refinery over other alternatives such as sugar cane and cassava, arose because the crop will not compete with the food chain.
Sanusi said only the stem would be used, adding that the grain would be left for human consumption.
The former CBN boss also said the process of growing and conversion to ethanol is less expensive.
Explaining the process and implementation target, Babatunde Obilana, a professor and coordinator, Feedstock Production Group (FSPG), as well as director, Global Biofuels, disclosed:
"In the next 18 months, a total of 3,000 hectares of sweet sorghum feedstock will be harvested to feed the ethanol refinery for crushing, clarification of juice and fermentation into ethanol."
The first cup of ethanol refined from the Ekiti refinery is expected to come off by December 2009.
He said building plans and engineering works for the refinery and life camp are expected to start in July 2009.
Obilana also used the occasion to debunk claims that the use of sorghum would cause food crisis in the country.
"There is no food shortage in Nigeria. The food shortage the UN is talking about is because the US, using its genetically modified maize, supplies to needy and war-torn countries. So it is believed that the use of more maize by the US will create shortage for those countries. However, Nigeria is not needy for food, we have 11 staple food crops in Nigeria," he explained.
The plant is also expected to generate 17 megawatts of electricity. The company plans to utilise only 5mw for its activities and distribution to surrounding villages, and proposes to sell the remaining 12mw to the state.
Obilana said over $3 billion (N345 billion) is being invested in both farm and refinery for each location in the seven participating states- Osun, Oyo, Kwara, Ondo, Ekiti, Niger and Kogi.
In his remarks, Felix Obada, managing director and chief executive of Global Biofuels Limited, promised that his company would apply world-class technologies to execute the project.
Obada challenged stakeholders in the industry to accelerate the development of the ethanol industry in the country.
"The future of the ethanol industry in Nigeria is bright, but the challenges are equally great. For accelerated development, there is need for government, private sector stakeholders and the general public to pool resources together in a strong Public Private Partnership, with focus on grassroots development and active involvement of the rural populace as encapsulated in the Nigerian Biofuels Policy and Incentives Package," he revealed.
The Ekiti State governor, Olusegun Oni, had in his address, pledged his government’s continued support for the Biofuels Project, noting that it would be a source of immense development to the community and the state as a whole.
