NNPC To Use These Crops For Diesel

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Wednesday announced that it had commenced the integration of biofuels production from selected energy crops through its agriculture development programme.

It stated that it would plant an energy crop known as Jatropha and convert the extracted oil from its seeds to biodiesel which in turn will be used to fueldiesel engines.


The Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, disclosed this during the Environment Dialogue on the Diversification of the Nigerian Economy – the Role of Jatropha.

Baru, who was represented by the Group General Manager, Renewable Energy Division, Mr. Rabiu Sulieman, said:

"As one of its key focus areas, the NNPC is currently diversifying its products portfolio for enhanced and sustainable energy mix. This, we are doing by integrating biofuels production from selected energy crops with a robust agric developmentprogramme. Though the feedstock forthis first project slate is sugarcane, weintend to cultivate Jatropha plants around the peripheries of the plantation and sidelines of the internalroad network. This will safeguard against livestock encroachment, whilethe oil that will be extracted from the Jatropha seed will be converted to biodiesel to fuel the diesel engines of the plantation machineries."