Logistics and delivery specifications are set for Lafarge Africa Plc’s 30 mega watts of electricity to be channeled into the national grid by 2018.
The Manager of Ewekoro plant, Mr. Segun Soyoye,recently noted that Lafarge currently produces 90 mega watts of electricity to power its operations with a target to increase the capacity to 220 mega watts nest year.
According to him, the process of injecting power into the national grid was at the concluding stage considering the ability of the company produce in excess of its need within the area.
He added that the company had also started investing in alternative energy sources to power its kilns.
In the views of the Country Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michel Puchercos, Lafarge had recently said that the company was ready to support the country in solving her energy problem, saying the effects of the slowdown in the economy prompted the company to seek an alternative means to generate energy for its Ewekoro and other plants.
In his further submission, Puchercos noted that “We realised last year that dollars was scarce and energy was scarce in Nigeria. So, the company reacted very strongly, how can we do both? We wanted to do both – keeping on producing and saving energy and dollars. This is how the idea of using biomass came”.
“Ogun State, being an agriculture hub as well, made it possible for us to produce 50 per cent power from biomass in 2016, which we can grow up to 70 or 80 per cent. We aim to roll out the scheme in other plants; in Cross River State, and in Ashaka, Gombe State.”
He averred that the production of biomass fuel from palm kernels is not restricted to recycling palm kernels, noting that “Burning and recycling wastes like silica and aluminum which are dangerous to man can generate electricity and improve the standard of living. If Nigeria is ready, we are ready to support”.
