Expect cheap petrol as NNPC, US partner to produce fuel from corn, wood, other sources

The US Grains Council and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will collaborate on ethanol production.

NNPC announced the development on its X page on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, when the US Grains Council visited the national oil firm.

NNPCL Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari met with the members of the Grains Council from the US, led by Ryan LeGrand, the Council’s CEO. NNPC said.

“During the visit, both parties explored areas of collaboration towards growing Nigeria’s ethanol production in line with sustainability principles,” NNPC said.

Ethanol is an alternative fuel from corn and cellulose stocks like crop remains and wood.

The NNPC signed an MoU with the Niger state government for the establishment of 500 million litres of ethanol plants connected to maize cultivation, sugarcane, and sweet sorghum on 100,000 hectares of land in the state.

Niger state to produce 500,000 tons of maize to power ethanol plant

The state government said the move will have over 500,000 tons of crops to power the ethanol plant.

The MoU involves the NNPC agreeing to plant 135 million trees on the 100,000 hectares as part of the 2030 net zero targets and climate protection.

Nigeria has been championing the development of alternative fuel sources as it ended the highly chaotic petrol subsidy.

The country plans to diversify into the production of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to curtail the rising cost of petrol.