PTDF to sponsor researches on production of biofuels, biogas fromnon-edible fruits

By Etuka Sunday

Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) yesterday announced its plan to sponsor more researches on the production of biofuels and biogas from non-edible fruits in Nigeria.

The Fund has also called on the National and International Oil Companies to cooperate with PTDF sponsored researchers by providing them with relevant data and other assistance when needed.

This it said would aid the solving of specific industry problems; enhance job creation and knowledge transfer in country.

Speaking at the Closeout Seminar of the 2011/2013 Annual Oil and Gas Research Grant Competition, the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Oluwole Oluleye said the “PTDF Annual Oil and Gas Research Grant Competition is aimed at fulfilling the mandate of the Fund to develop indigenous manpower and domicile oil & gas technology in Nigeria through an effective engagement of local researchers in solving industry problems.”

Oluleye said, “Useful research results with high potentials for gaining international property rights and patents are critical performance indicators of this program.”

The Executive Secretary said, “While progress is made in the discovery of fossil fuels in the Chad Basin, we should not loose sight of the fact that there is a global shift to environmentally source of energy. In this regard the Fund will sponsor more researches on the production of biofuels and biogas from non-edible fruits. Resources have been committed in this area and I am glad to inform you that the result has been positive although more work needs to be done, as we continue our efforts at ensuring biofuel production on a commercial scale in the next research cycle.”

He said, “one of the researches “Immobilized Oil Degrading Micro-Organisms in Local Cellulosic Materials for Rapid Deployment in Bioremediation of Petroleum Contaminated Soils” was found to be

commercially viable for patenting and has now been up scaled to pilot plant level for industrial use. The work on the Hydrocarbon Source Rocks had given strong indication for hydrocarbon presence in the offshore of the Dahomey Basin at Okitipupa in Ondo state.”

According to him, “Of the Five (5) outstanding researches being concluded today three (3) have been found to be commercially viable for patenting. The Fund has put in place actions to file for intellectual Property Rights and Patency at the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investments,” he said.

Commenting on the grant, he said, “to qualify for the grant, a candidate must be a Nigerian and the research must be domiciled in Nigeria.”