…inspects cassava-to-ethanol production facility, modular refinery
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said his government will sustain reforms and policies to guarantee the influx of investors into the state, urging investors to take advantage of the state’s gas assets.
Obaseki said this when he inspected the nearly-completed cassava-to-ethanol production facility in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.
The governor said, “We are changing the narrative on how government should support development. The government should step back and encourage private people to bring in their money, take the risk and build the future.
“This is a private sector project that we encouraged and gave them the incentives to locate their facility here. This is an ethanol plant that uses cassava as feedstock for its production processes. We are very glad about the progress that’s been made.
“There are almost 5,000 hectares of cassava farms cultivated and waiting for harvesting. So, as soon as this plant is ready, the feedstock required to produce ethanol is ready
“The road we came through is a private road that was built with the tax credit of the key investors in this project and we are encouraging other wealthy Edo people and Nigerians to use their tax credits to help us build infrastructure, particularly for production.”
He furthered, “If you go to Egboko in Orhionmwon, we have a whole complex – modular refinery, gas plant, 10 megawatts electricity generating facility there, which we are going to take electricity from there to Ologbo.
“We are encouraging people in the Gelegele axis to also come there to invest in the opportunities of the gas there. You know our government is one that encourages private investment and provides the enabling environment for people to come and invest.”
The governor, who also inspected the modular refinery in the area, said, “You can see that there’s production going on at 80 percent of their capacity and they have been able to sign a crude oil contract with a private company that is supplying them crude. They are refining and are able to sell.
“They are able to sell finished products now as you can see tankers loading. However, they have more demand than they produce. The demand from the local market is far in excess of what they are supplying. So, we need to encourage more people to build more refineries.”
On his part, the Enogie of Ologbo Dukedom, HRH Owen Akenzua commended the governor for his developmental strides, promising to work with the state government to ensure peace and security in the area.
