Nigeria needs 5.14bn litres biofuel, allied products yearly

The House of Representatives Passes Bill for the Development of Biofuels Energy Industry in Nigeria

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, passed through Second Reading of a bill seeking the development of biofuels energy industry in Nigeria.

Introduction

The bill, co-sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu; Hon. Khadija Ibrahim, and Hon. Babajimi Benson, aims to establish the biofuels energy regulatory commission as well as the Biofuels Research Agency in Nigeria.

Overview of the Bill

The proposed bill consists of 56 clauses and one schedule, divided into 14 parts.

Background

In her lead debate, Hon. Khadija Ibrahim explained that Nigeria introduced and began implementing the biofuel policy in 2007. This policy was established to combat climate change, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and diversify the domestic economy.

The policy aimed to encourage the production of bio-ethanol and bio-diesel for blending with fossil fuel. It also provided incentives for investors and proposed the establishment of the Biofuel Regulatory Commission and a dedicated Research Centre for the sector.

However, limited progress has been made in the past 16 years, with only a few Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Nigerian states and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Importance of Biofuels Energy Industry

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global demand for biofuels is expected to grow by 41 billion litres between 2021 and 2026. The global biofuel market size was estimated at $140.43 billion in 2021.

Despite Nigeria’s potential in the biofuel industry and the target demand of about 5.14 billion litres per year, the industry is still at a nascent stage, and its opportunities are not optimized.

The main challenge hindering the development of the biofuel industry in Nigeria is the lack of a regulatory framework. The absence of a legal and institutional framework undermines the effectiveness of the existing policy. This bill aims to fill this gap.

Benefits of Biofuels Energy Sector

The development of the biofuels energy sector in Nigeria has several benefits, including:

• Integration of the agricultural sector with the downstream petroleum sector
• Enhancement of petroleum product quality
• Additional tax revenue for the government
• Job creation and economic development
• Empowerment of rural communities
• Agricultural benefits such as improved farming techniques and increased crop demand
• Energy benefits such as co-generation of electric power
• Environmental benefits such as reduction in emissions and pollution

Financial Implications

The establishment of the Biofuels Energy Regulatory Commission will require funds. However, in the long run, the Commission will be self-sustaining as a regulator. The benefits derived from implementing the provisions of this bill outweigh the costs.

The development of the biofuels industry in Nigeria will have immense benefits for society, the economy, the environment, and the government. It will lead to increased demand for oil-bearing seeds and other feedstock, as well as address the pressing issue of climate change.

Conclusion

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Science and Research Institute for further legislative action.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• SDG 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 7.2: Proportion of total final energy consumption from renewable sources.
• Indicator for SDG 9.4: CO2 emission per unit of value added.
• Indicator for SDG 13.2: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development in a manner that does not threaten food production.
• Indicator for SDG 15.2: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: tribuneonlineng.com

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