FG, Delta govt partner on methanol

THE Federal Ministry of Science and Technology is to forge strategic partnership with the Delta State government on how to reap maximum benefits from the newly unveiled Methanol Fuel Technology Policy.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, disclosed this when he received the governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, in his office in Abuja.

He said the partnership would be of huge benefit to both parties as well as the nation in general.

Dr Onu stressed the need for value addition to the nation’s raw materials, adding “it is when Nigeria adds value to those raw materials that the country can  convert its enormous resources for job and wealth creation.”

The minister said that the implementation of the policy would improve virtually all sectors of the nation’s economy and go a long way in resolving the nation’s challenges.

According to him, the policy will positively impact transportation, as well as the environment, and the manufacturing sector, among others.

He said that the new methanol policy has entered its first phase of implementation and that the six geo-political zones would be sensitized on it.

Earlier, Dr Okowa described the policy as a product of hard work and futuristic thinking on the part of the ministry.

The governor said his government had been making efforts on the effective use of natural gas resources, which resulted in the proposed establishment of the Kwale Industrial Park in the state.

He added that his government would continue to discuss and strategize with the ministry to ensure that methanol fuel is effectively used to benefit the country and its citizens.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Bello Umar, said that the implementation of the methanol fuel technology came at the right time and commended the various stakeholders for embracing the policy.

He, therefore, urged the governor to encourage other Niger-Delta governors to embrace the policy.