The Environment Minister of State, Mr. Ibrahim Usman has commissioned a hydrocarbon plant in Ikene, Ogun State.
Loading ...The facility is aimed to reduce hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) by the year 2040 in line with Montreal Protocol agreement on substances that deplete the Ozone layer.
According to the Minister, the new facility would produce high grade hydrocarbon refrigerants which are to be used in the refrigerants services sectors.
He stated that the plant commissioning would greatly mitigate consequences of global warming on the ecology and human health occasioned by the use of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).
Usman stated that the first stage implementation of the Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons Phase out Management Plan (HPMP), which commenced in 2011 is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
“the hydrocarbon pilot project is one of the main components of the project and it is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of replacing the current use of HCFCs refrigerant in the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning (RAC) sector with the Hydrocarbon refrigerant based technology”.
However, the Minister expressed optimism on the commissioning, stressing that there would be a remarkable economic development as the project has the potential for job creation; provision of foreign exchange and the building of local capacity.
He urged the private sector to invest into the operation and marketing of the hydrocarbon refrigerants products stressing that the federal government was considering harnessing the products of the Hydrocarbon plant (Butane) as a source of clean fuel for cooking as an alternative for firewood.
