The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) On August 24, 2021, in Abuja, held a roadshow to educate Nigerians about the importance of boosting methanol fuel production technology in the country.
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation made declarations that developed countries were gradually reducing their reliance on crude oil and emphasizing cleaner, renewable energy sources.
Onu added that the need for cleaner energy sources was in keeping with the “Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)” of nations, including Nigeria, under the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement.
“The immediate impact of these initiatives is a reduction in the global demand for crude oil,’’ he said.
Nigeria is more of a gas nation with vast deposits, according to the minister, who harped on value addition to plentiful natural resources in order to improve the economy through income creation.
“Methanol is beneficial and relevant in over 1,000 distinct items that people use every day in areas like work, homes, industries, schools, hospitals, and nearly everywhere else.” he continued.
The minister stated that methane, which makes up the majority of natural gas, can be transformed into methanol, a novel and extremely important chemical.
“We can now see that methanol and fuel production is the only method to utilize our gas by adding value, altering its condition, and transforming it into something that is incredibly beneficial and has applications in practically every sector of our economy.”
“Innovation is at the heart of our capacity to develop a solution that is economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable,” Onu added.
Job creation, technological development and domestication, power generation, clean home energy services, the chemical industry value chain, and the decrease of pulmonary disorders among women and children are among the issues mentioned by the minister.
Others included effective transportation services, the elimination of gas flaring, and environmental sustainability.
