By Abdullahi Daudu
In a bid to key in to Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya’s Gombe Goes Green (3G) policy, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Gombe State Coordinating office, convened a roundtable meeting to deepen collaboration with the Council on the development and production of Coke briquettes from coal for sustainable economic transformation and environmental management.
The tripartite meeting, consisting of RMRDC, Gombe State Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources, and ELB Alternative Energy & Services, is aimed at forming a Partnership for Coke Briquettes Production. ELB Enterprise specialises in the production of Biomass Briquettes, which deems it fit to switch to Coke briquettes production from coal.
This move is expected to enhance value addition in coal, which is abundantly available in Gombe State, which is presently only being utilized by Ashaka Cement Plc for Kiln Firing and Power Generation.
The Managing Director, ELB Alternative Energy and Services Enterprise, Engr. Lawal Buba highlighted that the aim of his nursing ambition beside keying into Gombe Goes Green (3G’s) policy is to explore further the possibility of joining the federal government initiative of sourcing one million households alternative source of cooking energy as posited during cop28 outing and further play an important role in reduction of energy cost. This is because the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as Cooking Gas in Nigeria, significantly been on the rise over the past years. Hence, there is a need to look inward by transforming coal raw material into higher value products such as coke briquettes.
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In his remarks, the Honourable Commissioner Gombe State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Alhaji Sanusi Ahmed Pindiga emphasized that Gombe State is ready for such initiatives, as Gombe State is being rated as one of the best in ease of doing business including the provision of an industrial park with adequate infrastructure to cater for both foreign and domestic investor’s needs. He concluded that the outcome of the meeting will be forwarded before the seven-man committee headed by the Deputy Governor of the state for ratification of the tripartite collaboration and successful implementation. Considering the huge deposit of coal in Gombe state, together with its high calorific value compared to biomass, makes it the preferred option for the production of coke briquettes.
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Gombe State Coordinator, Mr. Abdullahi D., expressed enthusiasm that the coal project would be successful if the value chain is properly harnessed and will greatly safeguard the environment against deforestation, create jobs for the teeming youth in the country. He said the Council is committed to supporting raw material development, whether agricultural or mineral, for the economic transformation of Nigeria and beyond.
He urged the group involved to work assiduously in making the project a reality, as it will bring big relief to many homes in addition to other benefits.
