By Yemi Olakitan
Solidworks, a cutting-edge software programme, has been made available by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) in order to execute the manufacturing of methanol fuel in Nigeria.
Tuesday in Abuja, Mrs. Monilola Udoh, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, opened a workshop on Implementation of the National Policy on Methanol Fuel Production Technological Strategy by stating that Nigeria required alternative energy sources.
Although the oil and petrol sector constituted the backbone of the economy, she claimed that Nigeria needs to diversify its energy sources due to the trend towards clean, renewable energy.
Methanol fuel manufacturing, according to Udoh, is a practical choice with a number of potential advantages for the economy and environment.
If properly implemented, it would support the federal government’s efforts to commercialise flared gas and complement those efforts to reduce associated environmental pollution while facilitating the efficient and effective use of the nation’s gas resources.
“Methanol is a clean-burning fuel that is gaining popularity as a competitive substitute for fossil fuels worldwide,” she said.
Udoh claimed that in order to hold the training on the usage of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) software and Solidworks solutions to power projects and programmes in the ministry, the ministry worked with Messrs Coscharis Technologies Limited.
She described Solidworks as a computer-aided design (CAD) programme that gave engineers the ability to produce 3D models of products, parts, and machine couplings. Manufacturing industries frequently use Solidworks to design and develop new products.
The advantages and benefits of the software, including the faster and less expensive development of new goods, were stated by the permanent secretary.
The ministry is promoting a variety of technologies that will have an impact on the socioeconomic development of the nation, according to Dr. Peter Ekweozoh, Director of the Environmental Sciences and Technology Department of the ministry.
Today, he continued, “you are witnessing another stage of that tremendous step, and what this implies is that the ministry is coordinating the implementation of national strategy on methanol fuel technology.
“This policy will have an impact on seven economic sectors and hasten the implementation of the national department’s Paris Agreement contribution.
“The Federal Government has committed to reducing global warming by 47% in each of the seven sectors.
Agriculture, energy, industry, water resources, the waste sector, transportation, and oil and petrol are among these sectors.
According to Ekweozoh, it is the ministry’s duty to develop strategies, breakthroughs, technological advancements, and scientific tools that will enable Nigeria to implement all of the international agreements outlined in the Paris Agreement.
He emphasised the importance of the national department contribution that was deposited with the Paris agreement.
The national policy on methanol fuel technology was subsequently informed by this, with the key strategy of adding value to Nigeria’s natural raw materials serving as the foundation.
Despite not being renewable energy, the director stated that these raw commodities could afford the country’s opportunity to transition to a cleaner economy.
“Therefore, we developed a technology that would not only add value but also foster the growth of production and manufacturing sectors, particularly in the value chain of the chemicals industry.
The reduction of global warming and the production of cleaner electricity would result from this, he said.
Ekweozoh stated that a pilot programme would be used to launch the ministry’s initial phase of the methanol fuel manufacturing technology policy.
He acknowledged that the policy’s application to the transportation industry was part of the experimental phase.
He asserts that it will initially be driven by the manufacturing of methanol from gas and the 15% blending of readily available fossil fuel, both of which would assist reduce the transportation sector’s carbon impact.
