‘Agric Sector’ll Hasten Renewable Energy Dev’

The Group Managing Di
rector (GMD) Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Andrew Yakubu, has said that the agriculture sector had potentials of hastening development of renewable energy in Nigeria.
Yakubu said this at NNPC’s Day at the ongoing 35th Kaduna International Trade Fair in Kaduna.
He said that the sector was recording upsurge in activities and that the development would be a “good news” to the nation’s economy, if properly harnessed.
“It would be a veritable means of diversifying the energy mix for long time energy security as well as diversify the nation’s economy and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well,” he said.
He said as part of its effort in supporting the sector, NNPC had established Renewable Energy Division and completed seven bankable sites for feasible studies, including two oil palm projects in Cross River.
Yakubu, who was represented by the Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, Mr Bafred Enjugu, added that the corporation also had two sugarcane projects for ethanol fuel in three communities in Benue.
He said that NNPC was committed to working with the National Assembly to enact appropriate legislation that would encourage the use of bio-fuel as a source of energy.
He assured that adequate arrangement was being made to sensitise the public to the advantages of using bio-fuel.
“We need to redouble our efforts to develop our energy project that will match the success of the country and make us to be like Sudan, Sierra Leone and Angola, which are ahead of us on the project,” the NNPC boss said.