Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Alhassan Bako Zaku has directed the Project Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu State, to “dig-up” new ways to convert coal to fuel.
The under-utilization of the large coal deposits in Nigeria is causing government officials some uneasiness and Zaku , driven by the population’s over-reliance on petroleum products for energy, handed down his mandate.
“I have directed the Director General of PRODA to work towards the conversion of coal to fuel. It is something that we can do. We cannot continue to over rely on crude oil for fuel. Since most activities require fuel, there is a need to look for other sources to generate the product. Since we are blessed with coal deposits, we can work towards its conversion to fuel,” Zaku said.
The minister was less than impressed with the eroding PRODA situation, pointing out that due to the country’s current erratic power supply, some of the smaller villages were more likely to benefit from coal energy to power their machines than electricity.