ABUJA – A Chinese company, Beijing United Autumn Clean Energy Technology, on Thursday called for partnership with the Federal Government to develop sweet sorghum to produce bio-fuel.
The Chairman of the company, Mr Lu Wei, made the call in Abuja at a meeting with the Chairman, Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Dr Hussain Ibrahim and other stakeholders.
Wei said the project would provide job opportunities for women and youths through the development of small and medium scale industries.
“It will also address issues of food insecurity.”
He said the project could be completed within two years.
“Sweet sorghum can produce ethanol and it waste can be used to make pellet fuel to replace coal; its waste is also a good organic manure.
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“It can also be processed into sugar, while its waste can be combined with local corn stem to produce ethanol, vinegar and monosodium glutamate.
Wei said sorghum was a drought and alkalin resistant product that could grow in sandy and saline-alkali soil near seaside.
“It is also high temperature resistant.
He said the crop could grow with little rain, adding that It could also be planted and harvested within five months.
Dr Ibrahim said in his remarks that the Raw Materials Research and Development Council had appreciated the initiative and was convinced on the viability of the project.
“The council will meet with other government agencies to know what to do next,” he said.
Some of the stakeholders at the meeting include the representative of National Sugar Development Council, Mr Owoyemi Michael and Mr Akin Gbadamosi, the Secretary General, Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria. (NAN)
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