The Energy Commission of Nigeria has been advised to explore the option of biogas technologies in boosting the availability of energy in the country.
The advice was given recently by the President of Statewide Energy Consumers Association of Nigeria (SECAN), Mohammed Mustafa Bagudu, during the association’s courtesy call on the Director General of ECN, Prof. Eli Jidere Bala.
He said, “We know that the Energy Commission has research centres in each of the six geopolitical zones so as to boost energy availability in the country. But there is still a problem: we don’t know much about what the Energy Commission is doing in terms of biogas technology in the country. Biogas is very important, especially in the households.
“Recently, we learnt that NASENI took to the manufacturing of solar panels. Not so much people can afford them. Biogas is far cheaper.”
He said SECAN was ready to partners with ECN in sentising Nigerians on the importance of energy conservation, adding that “conservation is critical to availability.”
Responding, the director-general revealed that the commission is deploying every technology to increase energy access in Nigeria.
“some places in Nigeria have never felt the presence of the government until we began to deploy renewable energy; the energy that is available in situ. The sun is everywhere and the wind is everywhere; one just needs to utilise them to come up with energy. Biomas is also everywhere through gasification.
“Renewable energy is one element that the world has identified as very critical to sustainable development, mitigation of climate change, energy access, given that only 60 per cent of the country has access. energy access.
“ECN will be keen to partner with SECAN ultimately to boost energy access in the country. We want to immediately reach 75 percent and not too longer from, attain hundred percent.
“We believe energy access would bring economic prosperity to the nation, alleviate poverty and tackle insecurity.
SECAN’s role in sentising the society is on the importance of energy is very commendable. I am assuring you that ECN will collaborate with you on your advocacy,” he said.
