The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has said Nigeria would soon adopt and implement a new biofuel policy in which every litre of petrol and diesel sold in the country would contain at least 10 per cent and 20 per cent respectively of ethanol and jathropha oil.

Currently under review, PPPRA said the national policy on biofuel usage in the country would when adopted gradually introduce biofuel into Nigeria’s energy mix and incentivise its production for domestic use and export to neighbouring West African countries.

PPPRA, an agency of the government that regulates petroleum products prices and supplies, said the policy will ensure that bioethanol and biodiesel which are blends of petroleum products and agricultural products are readily available in Nigeria.

Though no timeline for the commencement of this was given, PPPRA however said the policy was part of efforts to diversify Nigeria’s energy sources and respect global convention on climate change with the inclusion of alternative clean options.

“Biofuels simply comprise of bioethanol and biodiesel which are blends of petroleum products and agricultural products. Bioethanol E-10 for instance is a blend of 90 per cent gasoline and 10 per cent ethanol, while biodiesel B-20 is a blend of 80 per cent diesel and 20 per cent oil from jathropha, used palm oil,” said Mr. Victor Shidok, Executive Secretary of PPPRA.

Shidok said Nigeria could derive immense benefits from including biofuel in her energy mix. Jobs, he noted would be created, in addition to the development supports the country’s agricultural sector could enjoy from incentivizing biofuel production.

He added that communities across the country would also generate clean electricity from biofuel.

According to him: “This harmony will lead to more jobs in the petroleum and agricultural sectors of our economy. A lot more advantages accrue from this new industry which offers an alternative to fossil fuel thus providing cleaner and cheaper energy.”