The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the use of
ethanol as alternative fuel.
MEMAN made this position known during a recent quarterly press webinar and engagement, where it was explained that about $7.4bn could be saved annually by taking advantage of Nigeria’s ethanol resources as a biofuel to support petrol.
Ethanol is a biofuel that is commonly used as a substitute or additive to petrol in vehicles. It is typically produced through the fermentation of plant materials like cassava, corn, sugarcane, and others.
MEMAN noted that ethanol blended into biofuel as a transformative energy source has the potential to change Nigeria’s energy landscape and pave the way for a sustainable economy.
Experts, who spoke at the webinar, revealed that Nigeria had what it takes to exploit its ethanol to biofuel potential.
Presenting a paper titled ‘Ethanol as a Biofuel’, a Senior Consultant with Africa Practice, Agwu Ojowu, pointed out that developing the ethanol industry could save the nation about $7.4bn ba year.
“Nigeria’s cassava production, standing at 63 million metric tonnes annually, represents 26 per cent of the global total. However, with 40 per cent of this yield lost each year, there is a significant economic loss estimated at $7.4bn. Developing the ethanol industry could mitigate these losses, enhance economic stability, and capitalise on the depreciating currency to reduce costs,” Ojowu stated.
He emphasised that ethanol’s higher octane rating improves fuel quality and helps meet environmental standards by reducing sulfur content and greenhouse gas emissions.
Those attributes, he said, make ethanol a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to petrol, aligning with Nigeria’s climate commitments.
The Executive Secretary of MEMAN, Clement Isong, reiterated the role of renewable energy in addressing Nigeria’s energy poverty.
According to him, importance of diverse energy sources, including biofuels, solar, hydroelectricity, and wind energy, to create a balanced and sustainable energy mix? cannot be overemphasised.
“MEMAN is committed to engaging with industry stakeholders to advocate for energy solutions that meet Nigeria’s needs,” Isong said.
