By Michael Eboh

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, has announced plans to establish a research and development centre for biofuels and other alternative energy sources in Nigeria. Speaking at the Close Out seminar of the 2012/2013 Annual Oil and Gas Research Grant Competition in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the PTDF, Mr. Femi Ajayi, said the centre is in response to the global drive for environment-friendly energy sources.

He said the facility, which will be called, the National Coordination Centre for Research and Development on Biofuels and other Alternative Energy Sources, would be domiciled at the National Institute of Petroleum Policy and Strategy, NIPPS, Kaduna. According to him, PTDF over the next couple of years intends to sponsor more research efforts in the production of biofuels and biogas from non-edible fruits.

He said: “Resources have been committed in this area and the result has been positive and encouraging, although more work needs to be done. I am reliably informed that efforts are being intensified to have this biofuel production on a commercial scale in the next research cycle.”

Continuing, Ajayi called on both local and international oil companies to partner research institutions and individuals in Nigeria in the development of cutting edge technology, and in the domiciliation of oil and gas technologies in the country.

He called on the companies to provide researchers with relevant data, monetary and material assistance as well as the platforms for them to showcase the products of their research, so as to ensure a sustainable growth and development of the Nigerian economy.

“This would empower and encourage them to contribute more towards solving specific industry problems and thus promote spin-off of industries for rapid job creation and knowledge transfer in the-country,” he noted.

Commenting on the competition, Ajayi said the programme is aimed at fulfilling the mandate of the Fund to develop indigenous manpower and domicile oil and gas technology in Nigeria, adding that PTDF intends to achieve this through effective engagement of local researchers in solving petroleum industry problems.

“This has proved to be the appropriate solution to the challenges of the industry. Useful research results with high potential for gaining intellectual property rights and patents are key performance indicators of this programme,” he explained.

Also speaking, General Manager, Strategic Planning and Documentation, PTDF, Mr. Jide Adebulehin, said Nigeria’s oil and gas sector cannot be developed without a virile research and development department, adding that PTDF is concerned with building capacity in the areas of materials and technology and human capacity development.

He noted that since the inception of the research grant programme, a number of projects have been patented, while some of the oil companies have requested for the results of these research. To qualify for the research grant, the PTDF expects the candidate to be a Nigerian, while the research must be domiciled in Nigeria.

The annual oil and gas research grant competition was pioneered in 2008, while the pioneering works were accomplished by five awardees selected from over 100 peer reviewed research proposals covering upstream, mid and downstream operations and renewable energy in 2010.