The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu Visits LIEPNES UNN 500KVA Waste Plant Gasifier

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has expressed the determination of the Federal Government to support the University of Nigeria Nsukka to produce more of the Refuse Drives Fuel (RDF) gasification plant to help solve the electricity problem in Nigeria.

The Minister stated this on Wednesday in Nsukka shortly after inspecting the 500kva gasification plant built by Prof Emenike Ejiogu led Research team from Faculty of Engineering of UNN.

Onu who commended the research team for building a 500kva plant that supplied the administrative block of the university with electricity which used organic materials as fuel to work said “the Ministry of Science and Technology is willing to support UNN research team that has made great innovation on electricity generation, that will help to solve the problem of inadequate electricity supply in the country.

“These innovations will not only give more people electricity but clear refuse dumps in our streets as refuse dumps our street are now being converted to electricity, I congratulate UNN on this important achievement.

The Minister thereby urged other Nigerian universities to emulate UNN by paying special attention to science and innovation, adding that this will make universities in the country to be ranked in future among the best in the world.

He said: “I am happy with UNN quality of research and innovation that is fulfilling the vision of founding fathers of the university.

“I urge other universities in the country to emulate UNN by paying special attention to science and innovations.

“I commend Prof Ejiogu led the research team for this wonderful innovation as well as the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof Charles Igwe, for his support and good administration in UNN,” he said.

Also, the Chancellor of UNN, Prof Charles Igwe commended the minister for his visit to see the 500kva gasification plant produced by Prof Ejiogu led the research team that now supplied electricity to the administrative block of the university.

He said: “UNN is happy for the minister’s visit as it will go a long way to attract government and private sector support to gasification plant.

“When this gasification plant is produced in commercial quantity, electricity in problems in universities, companies industries and the entire country will become a thing of the past.

“The university is happy with the invention of the gasification plant because it will help to end the monthly huge electricity bill of N80million by Enugu Electricity distribution Company (EEDC).

“This gasification plant will not only solve huge electricity bill in universities in the country but create more employment and wealth for Nigerians,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Ejiogu said the plant was designed and facilitated by the University‘s Laboratory of Industrial Electronics, Power Devices, and New Energy Systems (LIEPNES).He explained that the plant was capable of reducing diesel consumption by 60 per cent.

“With financial support from government, organization, individuals the plant will be mass-produced for everybody in the country to use.

“This RDF gasification plant that is powered by organic materials like rice husk, sawdust is cheaper than any source of electricity generation.