- FG Speaks On How ‘Gas Flaring’ Challenges Can Be Monetized
Gas flaring has constituted an environmental problem over the years, especially in the Niger Delta area of the country.
In order to address the environmental challenges caused by gas flaring, the Federal Executive Council(FEC) has approved the conversion of natural gas to methanol, which could be used in many sectors towards the growth of the economy.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu who disclosed this on Wednesday said once it is implemented, it will create new businesses particularly, micro and small businesses with the potential to grow bigger business and create job opportunities.
“The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology presented a memo to council that requires the utilisation of Methanol in our economy.
“The problem that we have in the Niger Delta where our natural gas is flared and it has created lots of problems; environmental problems; and also problems for fellow Nigerians living around those areas where the gas is continuously flared.
“It is of major concern to this administration and one way to help us to completely solve this problem of gas flaring is to convert the natural gas into Methanol.
“Methanol is a liquid that finds use in virtually all sectors of the economy; you can use methanol for transportation; all those racing cars that they put M85, M100, essentially, that ‘M’ is methanol and then 15 percent gasoline but for ordinary use, normally the blending will be 15 percent of methanol so that you don’t need to make any adjustments to your vehicle.
Speaking further on the advantages of methanol, Onu said: “Methanol can be used to replace diesel for all these trucks that we find on our high ways because methanol is cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
“So that all the problems associated with the use of diesel can be solved by the use of methanol.’’
Methanol can be used for cooking in place of kerosene, according to the Minister as it is safe, cheap and very clean, adding that it does not have soot.
“It is one way that we utilise our gas in our rural areas and it is going to help us in this problem of deforestation; because today, we are losing many of our forests and trees because we are using them for domestic energy use; so methanol will do this.
“Methanol is also useful in generating electricity power plant; many power plants currently use diesel and all that; methanol will be a replacement.
“Once this is implemented, it will help us to create new businesses particularly, micro and small businesses that have the potential to grow into bigger ones and it will help in the creation of jobs,” he said.
