Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
The Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE) has advocated for the use of liquefied gas in order to promote a more sustainable environment within the country.
The Organization made this known at a recent business luncheon with the theme, “Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Nigeria with Focus on Refilling Plant.”
The Former Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ikeja Branch, Akintayo Akintola, said that the advantage of liquefied gas is that it brings about the absence of gas flaring, thereby leading to a conducive environment.
In his own words, “once flaring stops, it gives us an end product of a safer and cleaner environment. Also, the flared gas would be converted into sustainable revenue for Nigeria. This is what is being used all over the world. If gas can be compressed into liquid form under high pressure with the enablement of dispensing, it would go a long way.
“The impact of this on the environment is that gas is no longer flared. If you go to the Niger Delta, their roofs are currently green. There is something called acidic rain, which mixes with the gas once rain falls, hence becoming acids. This is why their roofs are now so green and have holes on them, and cannot last for so long.”
Akintola further stated that instead of wasting the gas by flaring it, gas can be liquefied, thereby generating more revenues for the government.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Foks Joint Venture (JV) Nigeria Limited, Anslem Olawoye, said that LPG is a hydrocarbon fuel gas mixture of propane and butane that burns in the presence of air, which is oxygen in order to produce heat energy for everyday activities.
“It is hydrocarbon because it contains carbon and hydrogen atoms and fuel gas due to its ability to burn and produce energy. Propane and butane exist in their natural states as gases and in liquid form, after fractionation for storage and transportation. It belongs to the group of non-renewable fossil fuels formed over millions of years due to the decomposition of plants and animal remains.
“LPG can also be used as fuel for vehicles. LPG is more economical and environment-friendly as it burns completely without producing smoke and leaving residue. In Nigeria, as of today, it could be an alternative choice to petrol and diesel, because of the present high cost,” he explained.
