Federal government has expressed its willingness to collaborate with foreign investors in the use of methanol for electricity generation and fuel as part of governments determination to diversify the source of power supply and environmental management.
Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, disclosed this in Abuja while receiving the Chairman of an Israeli company, DOR Chemical, Gil Danker, in his office.
He said it would only collaborate with investors from across the globe willing to produce, do research and transfer technology to Nigerians.
Onu said the use of methanol for electricity generation would help Nigerians to utilise efficiently the enormous natural resources in the country as well as protect the environment.
He said: “They want to help Nigeria move in the direction that other developing countries are moving, through diversifying the source of their fuel.
“Many developing countries now get their fuel from methanol.
We should also key in because one is cheaper, it would help us to create jobs and protect our environment.”
Speaking, Gil Dankner, said the main product was methanol, produced from natural gas and was a basic product from which one can produce a lot of different products.
He said: “Methanol in Nigeria can reduce the cost of energy because methanol is cheaper than gasoline and diesel, it can improve the environment and create a lot of jobs in Nigeria.
“Methanol is mainly produced from Natural gas, and can be produced from coal, Biomass and Carbon dioxide emissions.”
Dor Group-General, established in 1957 is active in the petrochemical industry and alternative fuel for over 50 years.
