C-River Floats Bio-Diesel Plant For Alternative Energy

• As Vice President Kassim tasks Nigerian varsities with research

BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – As part of efforts to shore up alternative energy sources in line with global best practices, the Cross River State Government (CRSG) is ready to establish a bio-diesel plant at the Akamkpa Local Government Area of the State.

Gov Bassey Edet Otu, who announced this at a two-day energy conference in Calabar, the State capital, said the necessary paperwork to that effect has been formalized with the relevant federal authorities

Describing the project as a novel idea, Governor Otu said that apart from being the first of its kind in the entire West African sub-region, it is designed to shore up alternative energy sources in compliance with the United Nations global campaign for conscious efforts at reducing carbon emission energy consumption

He said the conference, tagged “Energy Cross River 2024” with the theme “Redefining the Energy Architecture of Cross River Using Sustainable Fuels”, aims at promoting the biodiversity-rich hydrocarbon deposits that the state is endowed with.

The Governor assured investors that the state remains a safe haven for investment given its abundant land mass, a high-tech security network, a rich ego system with various forms of yet-to-be-tapped mineral deposits, and above all guaranteed repatriation of profit

Speaking as the Special Guest at the Conference, Vice President Kashim Shettima announced that the present administration aims to achieve zero energy emissions consumption by developing natural sources of energy requirements like bio-diesel, wind, solar, and hydropower.

In a goodwill message delivered by his Special Adviser on Energy Resources, Tope Fasua, the Vice President tasked the Nation’s tertiary institutions to embark on research programmes that would further strengthen the government’s efforts at unbundling the oil and gas sector of the economy.

He also applauded the Cross River State government for initiating such a novel approach aimed at opening the investment frontiers of the state, acknowledging it as a sure and pragmatic step towards creating employment opportunities for the teeming youth population.